Heartbroken dad’s tribute to tragic Tyler Wilson as he warns other parents about dangers of open water
The heartbroken dad of tragic 16-year-old Tyler Wilson has paid tribute to his son and sent a stark message about the dangers of open water just days after his death.
Police raced to the River Calder in Castleford just before 7pm on Wednesday, May 24, after receiving reports of someone in trouble in the water. Tyler’s body was sadly recovered from the river, just off Leeds Road, at 8.30pm.
Tyler’s dad Karl made an emotional appeal in a video posted to social media, asking parents to check on their children and warning all about the dangers of swimming in rivers and lakes. With Karl’s permission, Yorkshire Live are sharing his words and urging all to think twice before taking risks in water despite the sunny weather this weekend.
Read More: Devastated Castleford mum pays tribute to 16-year-old son after his body was found in river
Karl said: “This is where Tyler was, that’s where all his family were waiting on the bridge to see him be recovered from the river. Me, his mum, his grandad, you know, uncles.
“Probably similar circumstances to today, the sun is beaming, the river is as calm as it can get. But when you get closer its not that calm.
“An hour and a half he was under the water, this is where he was. I don’t know exactly how he has ended up in the water, whether he was swimming or if he was [messing] about.
“If you look, if you go close, there is string in there, trees and there are currents under the water. It is moving rapid, you can see it moving underneath but it looks still on top.
“He has left a lot of people heartbroken has the lad, we all love him so much.”
He continued: “Its coming up to summertime now and I know everyone thinks they’re good swimmers, I know I used to do it myself with my mates. I’ve nearly drowned myself a couple of times, I used to stress that to Tyler.
“They don’t listen, they don’t take it seriously and then one day it gets you. It doesn’t get everyone but if you’ve got kids and you’re worried about them […] I’d say be hard on them. If you get that feeling and they’re going out with towels, give them a few quid and get them down the swimming baths, pay their mates in.
“That’s what I’d have done in a heartbeat if he’d spoken to me and told me. His mum would as well, I know that, he only had to ask.”
“Tyler’s gone, he’s never coming back. 16-year-old, shares a birthday with his brother, supposed to be doing his GCSE, got a girlfriend.
“We were losing him anyway but not to life. We were losing him so he could blossom and so he could make his own beautiful life.
“I’m heartbroken, we all are, everybody is,” Karl continued. “Keep your kids safe, you might not always know where they are but be open with them. Hope that they can speak to you.
“Tyler knew he could tell me what he was up to but for some reason on this day he didn’t. And we’ll pay forever for it.”
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