A FOOTBALL club has paid a touching tribute to a “hugely popular and talented” teenager who died after getting into difficulty while swimming.
Izaiah Smith, 15, vanished in Beckenham Place Park in Lewisham, London, just after 3pm on Friday.
Cops rushed to the park after he got into difficulty in the water and launched a desperate search.
The London Fire Brigade, Met Police, an NHS incident response vehicle, and a police helicopter swarmed the area.
Specialist teams recovered his body at around 10.40pm later that day.
The teen was taken to hospital where he was tragically pronounced dead.
Dorking Wanderers FC said in a post on X: “We are absolutely devastated to learn of the passing of one of our young footballers – Izaiah Smith.
“It is of course impossible to find the words to explain what a tragedy this is.
“Izaiah was a hugely popular and talented young man and will be sorely missed by all that knew him.
“The club will provide support for all involved in whatever way we possibly can.
“In the meantime, all of our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates at this incredible difficult time.”
SEDA Football Academy also said in a post on Instagram: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that SEDA Academy mourns the loss of our beloved U16s player, Izaiah Smith… We are absolutely heartbroken by this news.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Kids’ horrifying screams for help after pal, 11, ‘slipped & fell into River Thames’ while ‘paddling’ on day off school” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370874986112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“Izaiah was such a bright light within our programme. Always present at training, he greeted everyone with the most adorable smile.
“His huge character and infectious energy will be deeply missed by us all. He was a truly respectful young man, always showing kindness and consideration to all the coaches and staff at SEDA Academy.”
Other friends of the talented footballer have also paid a heartbreaking tribute to him.
Leaving flowers at the scene today, one pal said: “He was always smiling, always.
“He was so outgoing and sociable too.
“Thats why this is so unexpected he’s just not the kind of person you would expect this to happen to.
“This was his first time at the lake, we came down after school.”
Another friend added: “He was really good at football, he was a winger and striker – he was so fast.”
Cops are treating his death as “unexpected” but “not believed to be suspicious”.
A dog walker, whose home backs on to the park where the incident occurred, claimed: “He’ll be a local boy but I don’t know him, it’s so sad, it was the first day of the school holidays.
“They ought to close this lake down, this is the second time something like this has happened.
“Before a two year old got stuck in the mud and almost drowned, he didn’t die though.
“It’s really deep and it’s so dangerous, the water is so cold.
“When I saw all the helicopters I thought someone had been stabbed but then the news came out about this.
“It’s just such a shame, it makes me worried for my grandchildren, it wasn’t this dangerous when we were young.”
Another local said: “It’s only open at certain times and it is generally very safe, but it isn’t always open.”
Police have now left the scene and security guards have closed the gates to the lake and are preventing members of the public from going into the area.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Met Police has suspended a search for a 15-year-old boy at Beckenham Place Park, following the discovery of a body.
“Officers were called to the park shortly after 15:00hrs on Friday, 4 April following reports of a boy going missing after getting into difficulty in the water.
“Specialist diving teams were in attendance alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.
“A boy was recovered from the lake at around 22:42hrs on Friday, 4 April.
“He was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead. His death is being treated as unexpected but not believed to be suspicious.
“His family are aware and continue to receive support.”
