Mother's tribute to lake death son

Kane Jewitt had been inhaling lighter fuel

The mother of a teenager who drowned in Skegness says she wants other parents to learn from her experiences.

April Jewitt has set up an action group after the death of her 13-year-old son, Kane, in September 2001.

The new support group, called Kids like Kane, is aimed at helping youngsters with behavioural problems.

Kane died after inhaling lighter fuel. He was being cared for by North East Lincolnshire social services at the time.

The sad thing about it is usually the public don't want to know

April Jewitt

An inquiry into his death said working with Kane had been problematic because of his refusal to co-operate.

Mrs Jewitt wants more effort put into recognising behaviourial problems at an early age.

She said: "Kane had problems from birth and it wasn't until he started school that these problems were recognised and he was under a child psychologist by the time he was seven."

Hidden 'disability'

She is also calling for the community to be more supportive of parents,

"The sad thing about it is usually the public don't want to know unless they've actually got a child with this type of what I call hidden disability."

As a result, all local agencies are now working closer together to help youngsters like Kane with challenging behaviour.

The support group's first open meeting is at Grimsby Town Hall on Tuesday at 1500 GMT. Agencies including social services and the police are backing the project.