Teenager Dies During Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition in Wales

LONDON: An 18-year-old student has died after drowning in the River Wye during a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) expedition in Wales, prompting an investigation into the tragic incident.

Emergency services were called to Glasbury in Powys on Tuesday evening after reports that the teenager had entered the River Wye and failed to resurface. A major search operation involving Dyfed-Powys Police, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, mountain rescue teams and the National Police Air Service was launched before the student’s body was recovered from the river.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award confirmed that the young man was taking part in an official DofE expedition at the time of the incident. The organisation expressed its condolences to the student’s family and fellow participants, saying it was working closely with the student’s college and the relevant authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy while providing support to those affected.

Police said emergency services remained at the scene following the recovery operation and requested members of the public to avoid the area while inquiries continue. Authorities have not released the identity of the victim, and the cause of the incident remains under investigation.