Tributes to South Yorkshire lake death boy Phillip Law
Tributes have been paid to a 15-year-old boy who died after being pulled from a South Yorkshire lake.
Phillip Law, from Rawmarsh, had been swimming in the lake, off Manvers Way in Wath-upon-Dearne, with two friends on Wednesday afternoon.
The boys all got into difficulty and Phillip's friends managed to take refuge on an island in the middle of the lake, but he sank under the water.
The boy's head teacher said he was a cheerful, well-known figure at school.
In a statement Phillip's family said: "We are obviously devastated by the loss of a much-loved son and brother.
"We miss him dearly.
"Our thanks go to out to his friends who tried to save him."
David Pridding, Phillip's head teacher at Swinton Community School, said: "Phillip was a most pleasant, cheerful young man. His personality made him a well-known figure in our school community. He will be sadly missed.
"We have been working to support pupils and staff who obviously have been deeply touched by what has happened and we have received additional support from the local authority to do this.
"Today we have held special assemblies for pupils both to inform them all of what has happened and to help them come to terms with this sad loss."
Ch Insp Nev Hamilton, of South Yorkshire Police, said Phillip and three friends had gone to the area to enjoy the weather when three of the teenagers decided to go swimming.
A member of the public saw the boys in difficulty and called the emergency services.
Phillip was found by police divers and later pronounced dead in hospital.
Mr Hamilton said his 16-year-old friends were "upset" but were fit and well.
He said: "The water is very deep further out and it gets colder and colder.
"It looks like a really inviting place to be but obviously it's got strong currents underneath and it gets cold very quickly."
Mr Hamilton said a post-mortem examination would take place on Friday to determine the cause of Phillip's death.
South Yorkshire Fire and Yorkshire Service have issued a warning about the dangers of playing in water.
Firefighters from the Wath-upon-Dearne station will be at Manvers Lake on Sunday to speak to members of the public about water safety.