Daily Record
·Jul 2026
Boy, 14, died in river tragedy trying to save friend, 13, after playing on rope swing
An inquest found that two boys, David Ionut Radut and Aras Rudzianskas, died after getting into difficulty while using a rope swing over the River Tyne in Ovingham. David, who could not swim, fell into deep water and Aras attempted to rescue him before both were pulled under. A paddleboarder recovered Aras, who later died in hospital, while David’s body was recovered later that evening. Witnesses described panic among the group of children present, and police detailed challenges in identifying the victims. The coroner noted similarities to a previous drowning in the same river section as the inquest continues.