A TEENAGE boy drowned after getting into difficulty in water at Burwain Sailing Club in Foulridge.

A spokesman from Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that 17-year-old James Goodship, of Colne, died after he a six other teenagers had launched a raft into the water at around 7.30pm on Sunday (June 22).

James’s friends said he and another boy, Keaton Greaves, got into the water to pull the ‘raft’ ashore when it drifted unexpectedly into the middle of Lake Burwain.

Shocked onlookers said James went under water just 40 yards from shore.

Emergency services rescued the six other teens, five of whom were unhurt, while Keaton was taken to hospital but suffered no serious injuries.

A rescue operation for James was launched, with an underwater search unit searching through the night.

James's body was recovered from the reservoir at 5.40am on Monday.

A former student at Park High School in Colne, James attended Burnley College.