Teammates' tribute to young cricketer Nischay Patel who drowned in River Waveney

Coaches and players at Beccles Cricket Club paid a moving tribute before a game Nischay had been due to play in, as Rob Setchell reports.

Teammates of a young cricketer who drowned after going swimming in a river have paid an emotional tribute to their "charming" friend.

Nischay Patel, 14, had been playing with his friends and twin brother when he got into trouble in the River Waveney at Beccles Quay, Suffolk, on Wednesday.

Suffolk Police confirmed later that night that a body was found, with Sir John Leman High School in Beccles confirming on Thursday morning that the teenager was a year nine pupil at the school.

On Monday night, before a match the 14-year-old had been due to play in, his friends and coaches at Beccles Cricket Club raised their bats to the sky during a minute's silence.

They wore black armbands for the under-15s fixture against Lowestoft and all the players signed a bat, which will be presented to the Patel family.

Simon Leak, Manager of Beccles Cricket Club's Under-15s, said: "He was such a charming character. We shall miss him dearly. I can see his smile now as he walks across Beef Meadow to join us here.

"We wanted to keep this game going tonight for the benefit of the rest of the boys as well, and also to try and ease a little bit of the pain, potentially for the rest of the Patels and the family.

"I'm hoping that tonight is the perfect opportunity for the boys to process because it can hit at different times.

"When you had a smile and eyes like Nischay, you didn't have to speak words because his actions did everything.

"He had a presence and clarity and charm about him, which is unusual in boys his age."

His parents, Ketan and Praptiben Patel, who run Tabers Newsagents in the Suffolk town, paid tribute to their son in a social media post at the weekend, saying "this loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers."

They also thanked the "wonderful people of Beccles and those from across the country who have shown us so much kindness, love, and support."

A crowdfunding page set up after the teenager's death has raised more than £13,000.

It is hoped the money will be used to provide extra life-saving equipment to be installed along the river and a memorial bench to be built in his memory.

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