British authorities have recovered the body of 16-year-old Nigerian student Valentine Ikechukwu, who drowned while swimming in Colwick Country Park’s lake on April 30. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the tragic discovery following an extensive search operation involving underwater teams and fire rescue personnel.
Emergency services rushed to the park at 5:20 pm after receiving reports of a swimmer in distress. Despite immediate response from multiple agencies, the teenager’s body was recovered nearly three hours later. Police Detective Inspector Gail Routledge described the incident as devastating, warning about the dangers of open water swimming.
Valentine’s grieving family remembered him as a well-mannered former Nottingham College student, beloved by friends. In an emotional statement, they requested privacy while mourning their loss, saying “words cannot describe” their pain. The death is not being treated as suspicious, with case files now prepared for coroner’s review.
The tragedy has renewed safety concerns about unsupervised swimming in public parks, with local authorities expected to review water safety measures at recreational sites. The Nigerian community in Nottingham has begun organizing memorial services for the teenager, whose funeral arrangements remain private.
