A 14-year-old boy who tragically lost his life after encountering difficulties in the River Thames in Oxford has been identified as Baltazar L'Quy. His grieving mother has reportedly issued a heartfelt plea to parents, urging them to educate their children about the perils of wild swimming.
Baltazar L'Quy became the 11th person to die in a water-related incident during the ongoing heatwave, following the recovery of his body in Oxford. The Oxford Timorese Community Association confirmed the teenager's identity and extended its deepest condolences to his family.
Thames Valley Police described the death as unexplained but not suspicious. Officers were called to the river near Donnington Bridge at approximately 5:30 PM on Wednesday. In a statement, the police said: "We are sad to confirm a boy died after getting into difficulty in the River Thames at Donnington Bridge yesterday. The 14-year-old boy's family have been informed and offered support; our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time."
Community Reaction
A representative of the Oxford Timorese Community Association spoke to the BBC, describing the incident as a "heartbreaking time." They added: "This has been a very painful moment, not only for the family but also for the Timorese community in Oxford and across the United Kingdom. This tragedy is very sad and shocking to most parents, not only within the East Timor community."
The community member revealed they had spoken directly with L'Quy's family. "The mum was actually saying that this is happening to them, and it's shocking and it's very sudden," they said. "But she would like to remind all the other parents to remind the children when they're out there—don't just go into any water and always make sure they go with an adult."
Rise in Water-Related Tragedies
The teenager's death follows a series of fatal water-related incidents involving young people across the UK, including locations such as Lincoln, Halifax, Rotherham, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Farnborough, and Lancashire. Additionally, a man in his 60s died in Cornwall, and a woman in her 70s lost her life in Wales. Some victims have been named and tributes paid, while others await formal identification by police.
Authorities continue to urge the public to exercise caution near open water, especially during warm weather, and to always supervise children closely.
