A teenage boy drowned yesterday despite the best efforts of emergency crews — including Prince William and his air ambulance helicopter team.
The Telegraph reports the victim, named as 17-year-old Robbie Lea, was swimming in a lake at the Lee Valley Park in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, on the “hottest day of the year” when he got into trouble.
After an hour-long search and rescue, the young boy was pulled from the water and tragically pronounced dead.
Footage taken at the scene shows the Duke of Cambridge land his helicopter on the riverbank, and then walk towards the incident at around 8.00pm on Thursday.
WATCH: Prince William lands his helicopter at the tragic scene. Post continues…
“We knew something was up when a helicopter was flying extremely low just over the Lee Valley Park,” an eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Mirror.
“We could see it was landing so ran over to see what was going on.”
“Little did we expect to see Prince William himself flying the helicopter.”
“It was a very surreal moment when he left the helicopter to help with the search and rescue, for he had no visible guards or protection.”
They added: “He arrived in an East Anglia Air Ambulance with one other co-pilot.”
Heartbroken friends have begun to pay tribute to “perfect” Robbie, with many laying flowers at the scene where the teenager was pulled from the water.
William is pictured at the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) at Cambridge Airport in 2015.
William is said to be leaving his part-time role as a helicopter pilot so he can become full-time royal.
According to a report from The Sunday Times, the 34-year-old’s contract with the air ambulance charity ended in March however it’s believed he’ll work through the British summer, before departing for good around August.
William’s career change will time in with his family’s move from their country home at Anmer Hall in Norfolk to London’s Kensington Palace in September as their oldest child, Prince George, begins school.
An insider speaking to The Sunday Times explained the father-of-two has had “no pressure from above” to quit his job, but simply understands that the older he gets the more responsibility he has to the Monarchy.
“He knew there would come a point where this would be his life for ever more. He has always been a lot less reluctant than people think to take on more work and this phase of his life,” the source said.
Once they are settled back in London, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want take on more charity work on issues close to their heart such as mental health, homelessness and conservation. It’s also expected they’ll up their commitments with their beloved Royal Foundation charity, which they run together with Prince Harry.
Interestingly, Wills still won’t be taking on as many commitments as many other senior royals including his father, Prince Charles, and his aunt, Princess Anne.
“Some people may question why William still won’t do as much as Princess Anne but he is dead set on not queering his father’s pitch,” the source reveals. “He sees that Charles will probably be in his seventies before he becomes king and he doesn’t want to be seen as elbowing his father out the way.”
This means the doting, hands-on father will be around to help continue to raise his two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
