Charlton hit by tragedy

Staff at Charlton are devastated by Bolangi tragedy

Charlton Athletic are mourning one of their rising young stars who drowned while on a training exercise with the Army.

Pierre Bolangi, 17, was with fellow players from the club's Youth Academy when he disappeared in a lake on military land at Aldershot, Hampshire.

Police have launched an investigation into how the teenager came to drown.

The group of teenagers, all thought to be from the London-based club, had been taking part in an exercise with the Army's School of Physical Training.

Search

A search involving divers, a police spotter plane and about 30 Army personnel was launched when it became apparent the youngster was missing.

His body was eventually found by a dive team lying in shallow water near the edge of the lake.

"About 30 Army personnel joined in the search and divers found the body about 15 metres from the shore in two metres of water at a point where the bed of the lake is very weedy," said a spokesman for Hampshire police.

"Police are investigating the circumstances that led up to the youth's death."

The rest of the team who were with the teenager, from London, had to be treated for shock at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, and some were offered counselling.

Devastated

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney said: "We are absolutely devastated by this terrible tragedy and our condolences go to Pierre's family.

We are absolutely devasted by this terrible tragedy

  Peter Varney, Charlton chief executive

"Hampshire police are conducting a full inquiry into the incident and we will offer them our full co-operation."

Pierre had spent nearly two years at Charlton's Football Academy.

A club spokeswoman said a member of the Academy staff was comforting the Bolangi family.

"They are terribly upset. They are trying to come to terms with it," she said.