The family of a 19-year-old man who drowned in a Nottinghamshire lake have appealed for people to stop sharing videos of his final moments after footage of the tragedy circulated widely on social media.
Panashe Muchenje, a Zimbabwean national living in Nottingham, died after getting into difficulty while swimming in Balderton Lake near Newark during the recent UK heatwave.
The teenager had visited the lake on May 28 with two friends as temperatures soared across the country. What began as a day out in the hot weather ended in tragedy when Panashe entered the water and failed to return safely to shore.
According to reports, video footage captured the incident and has since been shared extensively online, including by some media outlets and social media users. The circulation of the footage has caused additional distress to his grieving family, who have urged people to stop sharing the images and respect their privacy.
Family members have also called for an end to speculation surrounding the circumstances of his death, saying unverified claims and online discussions have only added to their pain.
Emergency services were called to the scene after Panashe got into difficulty in the water. He is believed to have remained in the lake for approximately 22 minutes before being recovered.
Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was rushed to hospital. Despite their efforts, he later died from his injuries.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and that a report is being prepared for the coroner.
Local councillor Johno Lee described the circulation of the footage as disgraceful and called on social media platforms to remove the content immediately.
He said it was unacceptable that a family coping with the loss of a loved one could be confronted with videos showing the teenager’s final moments.
The councillor also urged members of the public not to share the footage and instead report it directly to the platforms hosting it.
Chief Inspector Clive Collings of Nottinghamshire Police expressed condolences to the family and warned about the dangers of swimming in open water.
He noted that while many people seek relief from hot weather by visiting lakes, rivers and reservoirs, such environments can be extremely dangerous because hidden hazards beneath the surface are often impossible to detect.
The tragedy has renewed calls for greater awareness about water safety during periods of extreme heat, when open-water incidents tend to increase across the UK.
As tributes continue to be paid to Panashe, community leaders have urged the public to focus on supporting his family and respecting their dignity rather than sharing distressing footage of the incident.
The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the risks associated with open-water swimming and the devastating consequences that can follow in a matter of moments.
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