Boy, 17, who ‘brought joy to everyone’ died on school trip swimming in sea with pals
TRIBUTES are pouring in for a boy who died on a school trip after getting into trouble in the sea.
Samuel Oluwatosin Oluwagbenga, 17, from west London, died while playing in the water with pals in West Wittering near Chichester on July 2.
He was a student at Uxbridge College - and was on a coach trip with 50 other pupils to the popular tourist spot.
Tributes are now pouring in for the boy, who was said to have "brought joy to everyone around him".
His heartbroken family said: "Samuel was an energetic 17-year-old and brought so much joy to everyone he met.
"He loved his little brother and on his weekends, he spent his time coaching younger children futsal in the Uxbridge Community.
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"We are completely heartbroken of his passing."
Emergency services scrambled to reach the spot after receiving reports of a child in difficulty on July 2.
Samuel was then airlifted to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester where he was pronounced dead a while later, reports.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Emergency services and HM Coastguard were called to concerns for a boy’s welfare in the sea off West Wittering beach at around 1pm on Tuesday, July 2.
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"A 17-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital, where he was sadly confirmed deceased.
"His next of kin have been informed.
"An investigation is underway to understand the full circumstances of the incident.";
Darren Taylor, an inspector in the Essex police department, said: "This was an absolutely tragic incident, and I would like to express my sincere condolences to the boy's loved ones at this heartbreaking time.
"A police investigation, supported by the Health and Safety Executive, is underway to establish the full facts."
Meanwhile, Dylan McTaggart, the Uxbridge College principal, shared: "This was a tragic accident that has had a huge impact on everyone here. Our priority now is to look after all those affected.
"We have enlisted the help of qualified counsellors and will make sure that, over the next days and weeks, we have staff and professional support available to our community. "
An eyewitness told of "horrendous" scenes as the tragedy
Speaking to , the witness said: "I was at the beach from around 1pm. Suddenly there were loads of police and coastguard.
"I could see lots of upset children and people from what looked like a school trip.
“It was absolutely horrendous. The tide was out at that time."
A spokesperson for West Wittering Estate added: "We are deeply saddened to report that a 17-year-old boy drowned yesterday after getting into difficulty in the water.
"Lifeguards deployed their equipment, including jet skis, to rush to the scene.
"Police and emergency services were there quickly with members of HM Coastguard, before the young man was transported by helicopter to hospital where he unfortunately later died.
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"His next of kin has been notified and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time."
The rolling sand dunes and wide beaches at West Wittering are popular year-round.
West Wittering tragedies
SAMUEL is not the first teenager to have found himself in fatal trouble at the beach in recent years.
In September 2023, Ryan Baldry, 19, went missing at West Wittering after going for a dip with pals.
His body was later found at Hayling Island, halfway between the beach and Portsmouth.
Tragedy also struck in May 2012, when another man, 25, drowned while trying to save a young girl.
Cops said the man - later identified as Plamen Petkov of South London - got the five-year-old to safety, but it cost him his life.
A British citizen originally from Bulgaria, he was posthumously awarded the highest Bulgarian civilian distinction for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
