Police have confirmed the identity of the 14-year-old boy whose body was recovered from the Torduff Reservoir on Monday evening following a multi-agency search operation.
He was Bockarie Sonnah from Musselburgh.
Bockarie, who had previously lived in the Longstone area, had been swimming with friends within the water when he got into difficulty.
Emergency services were contacted and specialist resources were deployed during the search.
Police Scotland’s Marine Unit recovered the teenager’s body at around 10pm and enquiries were then undertaken to trace next of kin and inform them of the discovery.
There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding this death and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
Inspector Liz Duthie said: “Our sympathies are with Bockarie’s family and friends at this very difficult time and along with our partner agencies, we are providing them with all the necessary support they may require.
“This tragic incident demonstrates, that all bodies of water can present a number of hazards that can put the public in danger.
“When swimming in streams, burns and in the sea, members of the public should always be aware of their surroundings and ensure they are able to tread water safely and do not venture into areas that could prove problematic.
“It is also advised to stay in supervised and public areas so that help is at hand should you experience any difficulties.
“Reservoirs tend to be positioned away from built-up areas and are often very secluded. This means emergency services are further away from providing assistance during an urgent situation.
“The water temperature in reservoirs is also likely to remain very cold, even on warm days and in larger pools, it can be almost impossible to determine how deep the water is.
“In addition, many of these locations have steep banks as well as hidden water intakes. These can cause a current within the water, which then makes swimming conditions far more difficult.
“Police Scotland would urge the public to avoid swimming or other forms of water sports on reservoirs and to safely and appropriately utilise the city’s public and supervised locations instead.
Reservoir safety advice can be found by visiting www.scottishwater.co.uk/you-and-your-home/your-health/safety-around-reservoirs
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
