Memorial service held for talented footballer who died after swimming at Salford Quays

A memorial service has taken place close to where a 19-year-old footballer died in the water at Salford Quays.

It is thought Ngapee Merenga from Ardwick, had been swimming with friends from his football team when he disappeared under the water on Sunday evening.

A number of young men are said to have made desperate attempts to rescue him until the emergency services arrived.

The memorial service was organised by Ngapee's friends and they have started a fund to help his family pay his funeral costs.

Friends and family gathered near the spot to pay their respects.

Ngapee, a striker, was East Central Falcons FC's top goal scorer last season, scoring 17 goals in 14 matches plus two assists. Friends say he worked hard at his football and studied sports science at the Nicholls campus of The Manchester College.

Yahya Mazhar, 18, from Longsight played football with Ngapee for East Central Falcons FC in Ardwick. He described his friend as 'good guy' and a 'talented footballer'.

Yahya said the team had played a match on Sunday morning before heading to Salford Quays for a swim.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's Paul Duggan, says last year 166 people drowned accidentally in open water across England, a 13% on the year before.

He added: "We've all been there. We understand, it's a hot day, the water looks inviting, it looks nice and cool.

"But if you've ever been in the shower if for whatever reason the hot water goes off and you get a shock of cold water the first thing you do it take a deep breath.

"Imagine that when you're on the edge of a lake. You're nice and hot, you want to cool down, you jump in that lake you don't realise the depth, depending on your abilities, yeah that cool water is going to cool you down, but the problem is you inadvertently take a deep breath as you go under the surface.

"If you've not got someone there capable of rescuing you and a bellyful of water, you're already struggling if your swimming skills aren't great anyway, you're in trouble very, very quickly."