Particle.news
Download on the App Store

19-Year-Old Panashe Muchenje Drowns After Getting Into Difficulty at Balderton Lake

Nottinghamshire Police say the death is not suspicious and a coroner file is being prepared as family and community urge social platforms to remove widely shared footage.

Overview

  • Panashe Muchenje, 19, got into difficulty while at Balderton Lake with two friends and was in the water for about 22 minutes before being rescued, treated by paramedics and taken to hospital following the May 28 incident.
  • Police confirmed on May 30 that he had died and have said the death is not being treated as suspicious while they prepare a file for the coroner.
  • A video of the incident has been widely circulated on social media and by some Zimbabwean outlets and the family have repeatedly asked people and platforms to delete the footage because it is causing distress.
  • Nottingham College and Panashe’s church paid tribute to him as a hardworking student who was applying to join the RAF, and hundreds attended his funeral service on June 9 to mourn his loss.
  • Local officials and police have warned about the dangers of open water and called on social media companies to act quickly to remove harmful content and for any concerns about those present to be reviewed by authorities.