Tributes after teen's canoe death

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Stewart McEwan's headteacher Peter Thomas paid tribute to a 'fine young man'

Tributes have been paid to a promising schoolboy footballer, who died while canoeing on a river in Wales.

Stewart McEwan, 13, from Earley near Reading, Berkshire, died on the River Usk near Brecon in Powys, on Saturday.

The young goalkeeper had recently been signed by Championship side Reading's academy and the club will pay tribute at their game on Saturday.

Stewart's parents said they were devastated while his school said pupils and staff were "in a state of shock".

Stewart was on a week-long organised trip to Wales and on a canoeing exercise on the Usk when the tragedy happened at about 1500 GMT on Saturday.

He was always a credit to himself, his family and Reading Football Club Eamonn Dolan, Reading FC youth academy manager

He was airlifted to Hereford Hospital but was later pronounced dead. A post mortem examination has not yet been carried out.

In a statement issued through Dyfed-Powys Police, his parents, who have not been named, said: "We are devastated by the loss of Stewart.

"He was a boy who grabbed life. He loved his sport and there wasn't anything he didn't enjoy.

"We were very proud of all his sport achievements particularly when he was signed by Reading Football Club this year and would like to thank the coaching staff at Reading Academy for their kindness and support."

Reading FC's youth academy boss Eamonn Dolan said Stewart McEwan 'lived his dream'

Reading chairman John Madejski said: "This is devastating news and our condolences go out to Stewart's family, who we will of course try to support in any possible way".

The club is talking to his family - who are season ticket holders at Reading - about how they should pay tribute to Stewart at the first team game against Southampton on Saturday.

Eamonn Dolan, Reading FC academy manager, said in a tribute that the news of the young goalkeeper's death had been "shattering".

"He was always a credit to himself, his family and Reading football club."

Mr Dolan said Stewart had been making excellent progress, since he was signed as a schoolboy at the end of August.

He said he played with "wonderful pride, dedication and dignity," while his mother would "beam with pride" while she watched him training.

Peter Thomas, head teacher of Maiden Erlegh School, where Stewart was a Year 9 pupil, said: "We have held a special assembly to honour the memory of Stewart and to share our feelings of grief for the loss of a member of our school.

"Stewart was a key member of all our sport's teams and was always willing to sacrifice his time in order to realise his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

"All this hard work was rewarded when he was signed, a few months ago, for Reading Football Club.

"From this moment Stewart had begun to live his dream. Stewart was a pupil who savoured every waking moment and relished all of life's challenges."

He said everything possible was being done in the school to provide pastoral support and bereavement counselling for pupils and staff.

The school and Wokingham Borough Council will work with the appropriate authorities to ascertain how this tragedy occurred, Mr Thomas added.

Dyfed-Powys Police have taped off two areas of the river about a mile east of Brecon.

Ch Insp Andy Twigger said officers were working to establish what happened.

He said: "The circumstances surrounding his death are still being established but Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that he had entered the water.

Powys county councillor David Meredith said the river was very popular with canoeists and was normally "easy".

"It's a terrible tragedy," he said.

"I just feel so much for the leaders of the group and also for the 10 or so other youngsters that were there as well.

"To witness what they witnessed is a sheer tragedy."

Undercurrents

Canoeist Robert Spencer said it was a "grade two" river which was "fairly relaxed".

"The water levels are fairly low," he said.

"There are no real danger spots. You get one or two rapids but they are fairly easy to handle.

"You may get some undercurrent under roots and tree branches. But generally, a relatively safe river.

Mr Spencer added: "I've not heard of any mishaps before on this river. Generally if you go up to three or four grade rivers you get some danger spots, but this is a relatively safe river."

Another canoeist, James Roberts, said: "It's quite an easy river to paddle. There aren't many danger areas so it's good fun, but safe".