'DIED A HERO'
Hero teen, 15, who drowned saving younger brother at beauty spot named as family pay tribute to ‘popular’ schoolboy
A HERO teenager who drowned saving his younger brother when he got into trouble swimming at a beauty spot has been named as Anas El-Rafai.
His family paid tribute to the "popular" schoolboy, who was enjoying a day out on the River Tees in Darlington, County Durham, when he went under the water.
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His parents said in a statement: "Anas was a fit and healthy young man. He was very popular at school.
"We are devastated and miss him so much.";
His younger brother got into difficulty in the water so brave Anas rushed to save him - but then vanished beneath the surface.
Emergency services raced to the scene and began a search of the river at 5pm on Monday but were unable to find the lad.
Tragically his body was discovered in the water at around midnight. His brother was not seriously injured.
Anas, from Darlington, was formally identified on Tuesday afternoon.
Durham Police said his death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
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Anas came to the UK with his family three years ago to escape the horrors of the civil war in Syria, only for tragedy to strike them.
He died in the water at Broken Scar on the River Tees while his best friend Mohammad El Mgharbel, 17, watched helplessly as the events unfolded.
Mohammad said: "There were seven of us who went down to the river to swim but three of them Anas, his younger brother Jamal who is 13, and
another friend were further out into the water than the rest of us.
"It seemed as though they were hit by a current, like a wave, and it
pushed them further out.
"Anas swam over to the other two younger boys and he pushed them to
the side and both of them managed to get out.
"But after he had done that he went down, I couldn't see him any more
and we knew we had to get help and called the police."
'IN DISBELIEF'
He added: "What he did was very brave, he saved the other two boys and in doing that his own life was lost. He was my best friend and it's hard to
believe what happened.
"Only an hour earlier we had been in town together and took a photograph of him, it's hard to accept."
His elder brother Mohammad, 19, said: "Anas was one of six brothers and we are all in disbelief.
"The family came here from Daraa in Syria three years ago and had found a new life which Anas was enjoying and was doing well. He would have been sitting his GCSEs this year."
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Refugee support workers were yesterday comforting the family alongside trained police officers.
Pals paid tribute online and laid flowers at the scene.
On Facebook, Charly Hewitson said: "What a brave and courageous young boy, an awful way to go but saved his brother's life. Thinking of all his family and friends today."
And Ella Boo Barton added: "RIP Anas, died a hero."
Fiona Jenkinson said: "Poor lad. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. RIP Anas."
'ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY'
Fran Wood, Chair of Darlington Assistance for Refugees, said the charity was supporting the boy's devastated family.
She said: "It's an absolute tragedy. It's not the first time the family have seen tragedy.
"The key worker who has been working with the family has done an amazing job.
"She is helping with many issues. There is a lot to organise. The burial needs to be sorted out.
"The boy who died was not the only person in the water. It's just happened so quickly. They are in a state of absolute shock."
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A Durham Police spokesperson said: "A 15-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in the River Tees, at Broken Scar, Darlington, has been named.
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"Anas El-Rafai, of Darlington, was last seen shortly after 5pm yesterday after entering the water.
"Sadly, his body was found nearby shortly before midnight. Formal identification was carried out this afternoon."
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