A teenager who died after entering canal water during the hot weather last week was always an enthusiastic and willing student, his academy said in a tribute today.
Kansan Rajeswaran, 18, disappeared underneath the surface in the Leeds Liverpool canal in Vauxhall on Friday afternoon.
It was reported that three people had been in the water, but while two of them managed to clamber out, the keen photographer and free-runner tragically couldn't get to safety.
Today, bosses at the North Liverpool Academy in Everton where Kansan spent half a decade released a tribute about their student.
Principal Emily Vernon wrote to staff last week after the shocking news, and told them: "Unfortunately I need to finish with some very sad news.
"Kansan was an enthusiastic member of our school community.
"He left after five years in 2018 but during his time with us he was involved in all of our activities and events.
"If I ever needed volunteers to help out or dress as an astronaut, he would be there.”
"As you can tell, the school has very fond memories of Kansan."
A huge emergency response of police, fire crews and paramedics rushed to the scene, near Lightbody Street, a week ago.
It was a warm day, which may have prompted the teen to enter the water, as fire bosses immediately afterwards issued a warning about the dangers of open water swimming.
Photographs from the scene showed a man in shorts with a towel over his head, standing next to an incident response truck.
A community fundraising appeal launched last week has already reached £2,625.
Kansan's social media profiles suggest he may have previously lived in Paris.
Merseyside Police said they had passed the tragedy to the city's coroner as there were no suspicious circumstances.
An inquest is yet to be opened but it will be in the coming days.
Chief Inspector Phil Mullally, of Merseyside Police, said: “We know how tempting it can seem, particularly on a hot or humid day, to go swimming in canals or docks, but we want to remind people of the potential dangers and urge them to stay safe around water.
“I would also ask parents to speak to their children about the dangers of playing in and around water. Yesterday we saw the terribly tragic death of a young man in open water and we would not want to see another family suffer in such a way."
