Family pay tribute to Windermere boat victims

The family of Kelly Webster and Lauren Thornton have paid tribute to their “two beautiful girls taken so tragic and so soon.”

Police were alerted to Lake Windermere by the Ambulance service after it was reported that three people on a privately owned boat were having serious breathing difficulties.

Kelly Webster, aged 36 from Leyland and her 10-year-old daughter, Lauren Thornton were taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary and despite the efforts by the medical staff they later died.

Matthew Eteson, aged 39 and Kelly’s partner, who was with them at the time was taken to Royal Lancaster Hospital where he was released the following day.

The father of Lauren, Neil Thornton, paid tribute to his daughter, he said: “My darling daughter lollipop, you were everything to me, a light as gone out that will never to replaced.

“Sweet dreams, goodnight, god bless, Daddy.”

Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious, and it is suspected that their deaths was caused by some form of gas poisoning. Enquiries continue to be conducted by officers on behalf of the coroner.