Steven Mitchell drowned in Givens River at River Roe last Thursday

THE funeral has taken place on Monday of a teenager who drowned last week in the River Roe.

A service was held for Steven Mitchell in Doagh, Co Antrim.

The 15-year-old died after falling into the River Roe in Limavady after he went into retrieve a ball from the waters.

The emergency services were called to the Roe Valley Country Park in Limavady around 4.30 pm on Thursday,  July 18.

It is understood the schoolboy went into the water to retrieve a ball, but got into difficulties.

Emergency services arrived and a PSNI helicopter airlifted him to Altnagelvin Hospital from an adjacent field.

However, it is believed he may have been in the water for some time and did not survive.

Steven was the first of two people to die in Northern Ireland waters in the space of a few days.

PSNI officers were called to the River Strule, Co Tyrone at the weekend after a man drowned.

Officers attended the scene in the Douglas Road area of Newtownstewart at 5.20pm on Saturday following a report that two men were in difficulty.

One man was rescued from the river and treated by paramedics for non-life threatening injuries.

However, following a search of the river, the body of a second man was retrieved.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police would wish to take this opportunity in the warm weather to remind the public of the dangers of being tempted to go swimming in rivers or other non designated areas.”