A 16-year-old boy has died after being discovered in a river in Dumfries on Wednesday afternoon. Kenzie Carmichael was pulled from the River Nith near the Boathouse on Nith Avenue following reports that he had collapsed, and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Detective Inspector Scott Wilson stated that officers do not suspect foul play in the incident and have ruled out the possibility that Kenzie or anyone else present had been deliberately entering the water.
This incident adds to a concerning pattern of water-related deaths among young people in the UK. A 13-year-old girl died after being rescued from the River Wharfe near Burnsall in June, and an inquest revealed that 16-year-old Muhammed Secka, who died in a lake during the same period, could not swim. These cases have prompted ongoing safety warnings about open water dangers.
What police are asking for
Detectives are appealing for witnesses who were in the vicinity of the Boathouse on Wednesday evening to come forward with any information, regardless of how minor it may seem.
It's vital we get Kenzie's friends and family answers for how he died,Wilson said.
We do not believe the circumstances of this incident are suspicious or that Kenzie, or anyone else present, had been playing within the river.
Wilson added:
I am appealing to anyone who was in the area of the Boathouse on Wednesday evening to contact us, no matter how insignificant you think your information may be, please do pass it on. It could be crucial in helping us establish the full circumstances of Kenzie's death.
The detective inspector emphasised that establishing the full sequence of events leading to Kenzie's collapse remains a priority for the investigation.
Key Facts
- Kenzie Carmichael, 16, was found in the River Nith near the Boathouse on Nith Avenue
- He collapsed on Wednesday afternoon and was pulled from the water by emergency services
- Police do not believe the death is suspicious
- Detectives are appealing for witnesses from the area on Wednesday evening
