Birthday trip boy drowns at Bolton Abbey
5:15pm Sunday 6th June 2010
A boy who was celebrating his eighth birthday drowned yesterday despite an underwater rescue attempt in the River Wharfe.
People attempted in vain to save Aaron Page when he went into water, which is about 25ft deep, near a footbridge at Bolton Abbey.
His 13-year-old brother, who was part of a family gathering of 25, raised the alarm.
A police spokesman said: “People entered the water to try to help but were unable to due to the depth of the water and the strong undercurrents. He could not be resuscitated.”
Medical staff were on standby and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance joined a search along the riverbank.
An underwater search team from the Upper Wharfe Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) were joined by police divers and, after a search lasting more than three hours, Aaron’s body was discovered in the water.
The accident happened at about 3pm. His body was discovered at 6.25pm, downstream from the footbridge and stepping stones at Bolton Abbey.
Harry Long, a controller for the UWFRA, said 28 members of the association’s team had been involved in the bid to save Aaron, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
Fire and ambulance crews were also sent to the beauty spot.
Last weekend, an eight-year-old boy died after falling into the  in , England. The river is known for its depth and strong undercurrent. The accident took place on Aaron Page's birthday, following celebrations with over twenty family members.

Page made his way to the river near  around 3pm  (1400 ) on Saturday; his brother, aged thirteen, was the first to call for assistance after spotting Aaron in the water. Emergency services subsequently assisted in searching for Aaron; the body was recovered at approximately 6:25 pm the same day. Members of the ambulance service failed to resuscitate him, pronouncing him dead at the scene.

"This was a happy family day out to celebrate a birthday at a local beauty spot ... and unfortunately this young boy has got into difficulty in an area of water," stated Inspector Kevin Franks of . "Despite efforts from members of the public and some quite sterling efforts from the emergency services and everyone else there, sadly we've been unable to bring him out alive." 

Inspector Mike Woodhall of Harrogate police cautioned; "no matter how safe a river seems sometimes there are inherent dangers."