A body has been found in the search for a 17 year-old boy who vanished after entering a Lake District tarn. Cumbria Police was called to reports of a person in difficulty at High Dam Tarn, near Windermere, around midday on Tuesday with multiple teams launching a rescue operation.
Cumbria Police has sadly confirmed a body was found, and the death is not being treated as suspicious. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and local Mountain Rescue teams were also involved in the search.
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Cumbria Police said: "We can confirm that a body has been recovered following a multi-agency search for a missing 17-year-old male at High Dam Tarn.
"This follows a multi-agency rescue operation with teams deploying from Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and local Mountain Rescue Teams.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious."
The beauty spot is a man-made lake located at the southern tip of Windermere in the Lake District and considered a "hidden gem" compared to busier tourist spots like Tarn Hows.
The tarn was created in the 1800s by damming the existing Finsthwaite Tarnm, in order to act as a reservoir and provide a consistent water supply for the Stott Park Bobbin Mill, which produced millions of wooden bobbins for the Lancashire cotton industry.
A smaller body of water, Low Dam, sits just below it and was added later to help regulate water pressure.
The force explained how it received a call at 12:32pm on Tuesday from a member of the public indicating someone was in difficulty in the water at High Dam Tarn.
A multi-agency rescue operation was subsequently launched with teams deploying from Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and local Mountain Rescue Teams.
A 17 year-old male was deemed missing having entered the water.
A number of teams attended the scene and launched shoreline, surface and sub-surface searches until the teen's body was found late Tuesday evening.
Superintendent Patrick O’Hara from Cumbria Constabulary said: "The thoughts and condolences of the entire rescue team are with the male’s family and friends who are being supported by detectives.
"I would also like to thank local farmers who supported the operation conveying first responders and equipment off-road to the search area."