Fri Dec 20 06:26:00 UTC 2024: ## Teenager Drowns at Reservoir After Friends Mistake Distress Signals for a Joke
**Dudley, UK** – A 16-year-old boy, Tyrese Johnson, drowned at Lodge Farm Reservoir in Netherton, Dudley, earlier this year, after his friends misconstrued his calls for help as a joke, an inquest heard. The incident occurred in July on the last day of school.
According to testimony at the Black Country coroners court, Johnson, who was afraid of water and could not swim, entered the water with friends. After less than three minutes, he began struggling as the shallow water abruptly dropped off into deeper sections. Witnesses stated that Johnson waved for help, but initially, his friends believed it to be playful behavior.
One of the friends, James Birks, described the scene, noting an initial jovial atmosphere before the situation quickly escalated. Birks and others attempted to rescue Johnson, with Birks diving repeatedly for approximately 40 minutes, but the murky water hampered efforts. Johnson’s body was recovered the following day.
Johnson’s family released a tribute, expressing their heartbreak and stating their son had never learned to swim and actively avoided water. They questioned the lack of life-saving equipment at the reservoir. The inquest continues.
First Piper 