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Boy who died in river 'could light up any room'

Pamela BilalovaNorth East and Cumbria
Handout A composite image of the three teenagers. Luke Etheridge is on the left and is looking into the camera with a straight face. He has dark, short hair which is longer on the top compared to the sides. He is wearing a blue t-shirt and lighter blue lanyard. Zara Shaw is in the middle smiling into the camera with her chin resting on her clasped hands. She has long brown hair and is wearing a black vest with a pearl bracelet on her wrist. Jackson Duke is on the right and has light brown short hair. He is smiling to the side. He is wearing a black suit jacket and beige shirt and tie. Handout
Luke Etheridge, Zara Shaw and Jackson Duke (left to right) died when the car they were in entered the River Wear

A boy who died when a car ended up in a river had "a personality that could light up any room", a community centre has said.

Sixteen-year-olds Luke Etheridge and Zara Shaw died along with Jackson Duke, 17, when the black Audi A3 they were in came off the road at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge, Sunderland, and plunged into the Wear just before 13:30 BST on Tuesday.

Plains Farm Youth and Community Centre, where Luke was a member, said he left a "lasting impression" on those around him and would be "deeply missed".

Zara's former school Christ College said she had been "a delight to teach", while Hebburn Town FC, where Jackson played in the U18s team, said his loss would be "deeply felt".

Jackson and Luke were from Sunderland and Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring, a town about seven miles (11km) from the city. All were students at Sunderland College.

Bouquets and a balloon are tied to the railings at the River Wear. Panns Bank, a a four-storey brown brick student accommodation block, is visible in the distance. A police car is parked nearby with a police officer standing next to it.
Floral tributes have been left in the Panns Bank area where the car came off the road

In a tribute posted on Facebook, Plains Farm Youth and Community Centre said: "Luke was such a bright, energetic and positive young person, with a personality that could light up any room.

"He had a wonderful way of bringing his energy to everyone he met and leaving a lasting impression on those around him."

He would be missed "more than words can say", it added.

Luke's former football club Humbledon & Plains Farm YFC also paid tribute, saying the teenager was "much loved" and "very much part of a successful squad including promotions and goals".

'Deeply saddened'

Christ's College, in Sunderland, where Zara studied from the age of four through to 16 before leaving in the summer, said she had been a "kind and loyal student with a close-knit circle of friends".

"She maintained strong and positive relationships with her peers and her teachers, she worked hard in school and staff described Zara as a delight to teach," the school said in a tribute on Facebook.

Zara was also a former student at The Drama Lab in Sunderland, which said it was "deeply saddened".

"Our heartfelt condolences go to Zara's family and loved ones, and to the parents and families of all those affected," it said.

"Our thoughts are with everyone grieving at this incredibly difficult time."

BBC/Eve Connor The River Wear in Sunderland with low water and brown, muddy banks, has a collection of emergency vehicles on the nearer quayside. There are marked police vans and a large, yellow recovery vehicle with a blue crane arm. Hanging from the crane arm is an upside down black Audi A3. BBC/Eve Connor
The empty black Audi A3 was recovered from the water on Wednesday

Jackson played for Hebburn Town Juniors and the club's U18s team.

A minute's silence will be held ahead of their game in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening.

"Jackson was part of our football family, and his loss will be deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, friends and everyone across our club who knew him," the club said.

A spokesperson for Sunderland College previously said they were "deeply saddened" by the deaths of three of their students.

A 17-year-old boy who been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has since been released on bail.

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