A friend of a teenage angler who drowned in a fishing lake today paid tribute to his determination “to achieve great things” in life.
Today, Connor Baxter, 17, his friend and fellow pupil at Longfield Academy, said he had “never met such a determined person”. He said: “He always drove himself to achieve great things and he succeeded in football, becoming an academy player. He also loved fishing, and that’s why it is some sort of consolation that he passed while fishing.”
The incident, at a carp fishing lake in the village of Sutton-at-Hone, is not being treated as suspicious. The teenager, from Fawkham, was reported missing on Friday afternoon after failing to return home.
His family said the West Ham supporter, whose nickname was Bubbles, was the “funniest, strongest, most amazing boy”.
In a statement, they said: “Jack, you were like a beautiful angel that we were sent. We have been so lucky to have you and you were amazing. You were like our little golden boy, your life was so charmed and everything you wanted seemed to come to you.
“Your love of football was answered by playing for Volenti Football Academy and your weekends were spent on your one true love, fishing. You have brought so much joy to us and we feel so blessed to have had you.
“Thank you so, so much for letting us be part of your life, our perfect angel Jack, AKA the cheekiest, funniest, strongest, amazing boy we have ever had the pleasure to have known.”
