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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Luke Traynor

Tributes to 'wonderful son' and bright student who drowned in the Mersey

Permanent memorials are likely to be erected at two schools and also the former work place of a tragic teenager who drowned in the River Mersey.

"Model pupil" Richard Bliss was discovered in the water, close to the Pier Head, after a night out with friends in Liverpool city centre last August 4.

The 19-year-old had never shown any signs of struggling with his mental health, but hours earlier with pals, the Bootle man had casually mentioned "killing himself."

Because it was a "throwaway" comment, it was largely disregarded.

Just before he died, Richard had texted his mum, saying "I love you," before she replied, in the middle of the night, "I love you too."

Today, after an inquest on Thursday recorded a narrative verdict into his shock death, his proud dad Keith described him as a "wonderful son."

And the 52-year-old said the keen Liverpool fan was set to have a memorial bench created outside the Marks and Spencer store, in Aintree Retail Park, where he worked, in his name.

Both his former schools - Bedford Primary School and Hillside High School - have also spoken of their wish to erect some kind of memorial on their grounds.

Civil servant Keith told the ECHO: "Richard is missed by all.

"There's been nothing but support and tributes from his primary school upwards,

"There were no warning signs that he was struggling, and he just seems to have got upset that night.

"There isn't any rhyme and reason for it, he'd not taken drugs...Richard was doing well academically."

The family have spoken to some of his friends who the teen was out with before he died, who recalled the business student had "become down" while out.

"Then he seemed to pick up a bit," pals said, and but "became detached from the group."

Nobody can recall any disagreements Richard had, they added.

Keith, who previously predicted his son would "go onto do great things in the world," said: "I've since learnt he was doing well at university, it's one of those inexplicable things."

The family have been raising money for PAPYRUS, the UK charity for the prevention of young suicides.

At around 4.30am, Richard could not be found by his friends, and he was not answering repeated calls to his mobile phone.

They managed to track him down using a smartphone app, alerting Merseyside Police.

A search was undertaken and Richard was located in the water after he was spotted by a passer-by and he was pulled to safety.

Attempts to carry out CPR commenced before he was rushed to the Royal Liverpool Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police found there were no suspicious circumstances.

He had a relatively low level of alcohol in his body, just above the normal drink drive limit, which would have led to "mild drunkenness," the inquest heard.

There were no signs of any recreational drug-taking.

Richard's family recalled dropping him off at work in Aintree the day before his death, and said he was positively making plans for the coming week and future.

If you are affected by the issues in this story, you can speak to the Samaritans for free on 116 123

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