7:50am Saturday 4th September 2010
THE funeral of a 17-year-old boy, who died saving a friend’s life after they were swept out to sea, was held yesterday.
James Willis, from Stockton, died after he and two friends got into difficulty off the coast of Whitby, on August 25.
The three were on a supervised outing from St Nicholas Hospital, in Newcastle.
Mr Willis’ funeral was held at the River of Life Church, in Stockton, and was followed by a cremation at Teesside Crematorium.
His mother, Paula Willis, has said in a statement: “James was a lovely, popular boy and will be sorely missed by all his family and friends.
“I am completely devastated by this tragic accident and I am trying to come to terms with his loss.”
The hospital where the teenager was a patient is a psychiatric forensic unit for youths aged 14 to 17.
Dr Suresh Joseph, medical director for Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Mental Health Trust, said there had been four members of staff supervising the three teenagers on the trip.
RNLI members who tried to save Mr Willis said they thought he had managed to pull himself to safety using a ladder on the pier wall, but he had returned to the water to help his friend. The two 16- year-old girls were treated for water ingestion and shock.
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