15-year-old girl who died in Cardiff river named as Nicola Williams

  • Wales

Tributes have been paid to a 15-year-old girl who died after being swept away by a river in Cardiff.

Nicola Williams, from Trowbridge in Cardiff, died after being rescued from the Rhymney River near Ball Lane on Friday evening.

Emergency services were called at 5.20pm after they received reports of a girl in the river.

Search boats and a search helicopter were deployed and Miss Williams was found at around 6.40pm, but she could not be saved.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "We were called at 5.20pm on Friday to a report of a girl in the river in Ball Lane, Llanrumney."We attended with a number of other emergency services and the police helicopter."At about 6.40pm a 15-year-old girl was located and despite the best efforts of emergency services she sadly passed away."

Officers said her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Floral tributes and messages have been left at the scene where the 15-year-old was swept away. Credit: ITV Wales

Llanrumney Cllr Keith Jones, Cardiff Council, said the whole community is "absolutely devastated by the tragic news".

"Everyone is waking up to the worst possible pain news you can imagine, a child has died in our community, and no one can really understand it."

He added that the Rhymney River is a very "beautiful" but "dangerous" place.

"During lockdown people in the local community have been using that area far more.

"It's been tranquil very often, but obviously we had unseasonal weather with Storm Ellen, which has caused terrible conditions.

"That tide can flow far quicker than it would at other times, and it takes just a second for somebody to get into trouble as has happened in this case."

He urged other children and families to be careful around water.

"These are not playgrounds, these are not safe environments per se and you have to be very careful and cautious about how you're interacting with nature."

Family and friends laid flowers with messages as a tribute to the teenager. Credit: ITV Wales

Nicola's head teacher said she was a ''polite, respectful and hardworking'' girl.

''Any school would be better for having Nicola in it. We are still reeling from the tragic events of Friday evening. Sometimes words are just not enough and do not do a person justice. This is certainly the case with Nicola.''

Floral tributes, messages and photos have been left at the scene where the 15-year-old was swept away.

One message read: "My beautiful, sassy, quirky niece. We love you, we'll miss you, but we'll never ever forget you. We'll think of you every day."

Another tribute said: "Rest in peace Nicola. Fly high angel."