A 19-year-old teenager has tragically drowned in a lake in Nottinghamshire, with footage of the incident spreading on social media. Panashe Muchenje, from Nottingham, was visiting Balderton Lake near Newark with two friends on May 28 during the UK heatwave when the tragedy occurred.
Incident Details
The Zimbabwean national entered the lake and soon got into difficulty. Video footage captured the incident and was later circulated online. The family has urged major tech companies to remove the distressing video, which has been widely shared by Zimbabwean news media.
Family's Appeal
The family has requested that people stop speculating about the death, stating that such speculation only adds insult to injury. Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious. It is understood that Panashe was in the lake for 22 minutes before being pulled out and treated by paramedics. He was rushed to hospital but later died.
Official Reactions
Nottinghamshire County Councillor for Balderton, Johno Lee, expressed shock and concern over the circulation of the footage. He called it a complete disgrace and urged social media companies to remove the content immediately. He also called on Nottinghamshire Police to review the footage and investigate any concerns.
Chief Inspector for Newark, Clive Collings, expressed condolences and reminded the public of the dangers of open waters. He encouraged people to seek support if needed.
Public Urged Not to Share
The councillor urged the public not to share the videos and to report them to the relevant platforms. He stressed that the focus should be on supporting the family and respecting their privacy. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that no investigation is underway and that a file is being prepared for the coroner.
