Boy, 13, who drowned while 'lake jumping' had told friends he couldn't swim

Boy, 13, who drowned while 'lake jumping' had told friends he couldn't swim Tragic Hayden Jones-Powell had gone to Meynell Lake in Fosse Way, Syston, with a group of friends after school finished early A schoolboy who tragically drowned after he went "lake jumping" with his friends had told them he couldn't swim. Hayden Jones-Powell was only 13 years old when he died at Meynell Lake in Leicestershire on June 25. The boy was one of 15 children who went to the lake after Wreake Valley Academy closed early that day due to high temperatures, an inquest heard on Friday. Hayden had told his friends he couldn't swim before going into the water and he was last seen at around 12.45pm. His friends raised the alarm and teachers from the academy rushed to the lake to try to find him but to no avail. Officers were then called just after 1.30pm and specialist dive teams, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service searched the lake. Later that evening, at 8.15pm, Hayden was found in the water, with a post-mortem examination confirming he had drowned. Leicestershire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Coroner Isobel Thistlethwaite recorded a conclusion of accident, Leicestershire Live reports. Hayden's parents, Ben Jones-Powell and Emily Ambler, paid tribute to their son after his death, saying the boy had a passion for football and a love of animals. "We want him to be remembered by his big smile," they said. "The world isn't the same without him. His love of animals, his passion towards football and being outside. "Hayden also had an amazing sense of humour and was extremely quick-witted. We don't know how we will cope without him." Hayden was a keen West Bromwich Albion supporter with a wide circle of friends. He leaves behind two older brothers and a sister. His aunt, Charlotte Powell, previously said he was "just a really lovely little cheeky boy." She said: "He wanted to cool off from the heat and enjoy the cool water, getting some respite from the heatwave after school." She added: "It's horrific, absolutely horrific. It's the thing that happens to other people, doesn't it? It doesn't happen to your family." Hayden's death was followed by an outpouring of grief across the Leicestershire town as hundreds gathered in Syston's Central Park to release balloons in his memory two days after the tragedy. Many wore T-shirts printed with his photo. Flowers, cards and balloons were also left along a nearby fence in tribute. Ms Powell said the tributes showed how much he meant to people. "Not one child doesn't know Hayden. They all loved him," she said. "You've only got to look up the fence to see the tributes they've paid to see what an impact that boy had in 13 years. It's incredible." His friends also shared a memory of his sense of humour. They said he would ask his school's deputy head teacher what was in his sandwiches every single day, without fail. "He always had a quick wit for something," Charlotte said. "He was so loved, so loved, and that is evidently here today." Wreake Valley Academy said it was devastated by the loss of one of its students. A spokesperson said: "This tragic accident has deeply affected everyone at our school and we are providing support to students, staff, and families who need it."