Boy found dead in quarry named

A teenage boy who died after falling into water at a quarry was on holiday visiting family, just one week after his 15th birthday, police said.

The body of Augusto Massampo Zacarias, from Portugal, was pulled from the water at the quarry in Lower Gornal in Dudley, West Midlands, at 8.26pm last night.

The grim discovery came after emergency services searched for around seven hours for the teenager, hampered by the zero visibility of the water and access at the scene.

Augusto was visiting family from Portugal and had been in the country for less than three weeks, West Midlands Police said.

He was here with his parents and young brother and had celebrated his 15th birthday last week.

In a statement released through police, Augusto's father and mother, Pedro and Paulina Zacarias, said: "Augusto was our first child, who we loved with all our hearts. He was a loving son and older brother to Samuel.

"Augusto loved to play football and hoped to play professionally one day. He was a very sensible young man and had begun to make plans for the future should he not have been successful as a footballer. He planned to continue his studies and eventually work in engineering.

"Augusto had lots of positive aims and had a bright future. He was a lovely child and our pride and joy.

"Our son's passing is a great loss to us as a family; he will be deeply missed and forever in our thoughts."

West Midlands Police said the teenager had been at the quarry with friends, who tried to rescue him in the immediate aftermath of the accident, before calling the emergency services.

Officers were called at 1.17pm and arrived at the scene, which is near the Crooked House Pub, just before 1.20pm.

A force spokeswoman said it quickly became apparent that the boy had fallen into the water earlier.

The area around the quarry was sealed off while the search for Augusto was carried out but proved to be "challenging" because of accessibility at the site and the zero visibility of the water, the spokeswoman said.

In the wake of the tragedy, police have continued to urge young people not to swim or play near open or unsupervised water.

The matter has now been referred to the coroner.

PA