'Truly beautiful soul' - Fylde Cricket Club to host memorial for Poulton teen, 17, who drowned in the Lakes

A tribute ‘to a truly beautiful soul’ will see the family and friends of a special 17-year-old get together to play the game he loved.

Keen cricketer Absi Ahmed, from Poulton, got into difficulty swimming in High Dam Tarn, near Windermere, on April 7.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services including police, fire, ambulance, HM Coastguard and mountain rescue teams the much loved teenager could not be saved.

Now as a special community tribute, his friends at Fylde Cricket Club will be hosting Absi’s Memorial Match on Sunday, June 14.

From 5pm there will be a fun cricket match, followed by a tribute and remembrance evening from 7pm.

A Fylde Cricket Club spokesman said: “Everyone is welcome to come along and celebrate a truly beautiful soul - at the community tribute for Absi.

“From 5pm on June 14 we will have a fun cricket match. Anyone who would like to take part is welcome. Fancy dress is encouraged (but definitely not compulsory!) as Absi loved dressing up and making people smile.

“Then between 7pm and 10pm we will have a tribute and remembrance. We will come together for a tribute to celebrate and remember Absi, with a few words, candles and time to reflect together.”

Throughout the event, where food and drink will be on offer, the club will be raising money for a memorial tree and bench for Absi at the Moorland Road cricket club.

The family of the Blackpool Sixth Form College student say they don’t blame anyone for his death – but say there needs to be more warning signs and lifesaving equipment to try to prevent another tragedy.

Absi’s friends have raised almost £16,500 through a GoFundMe campaign with money from that fund going towards the appeal and supporting his family.

Absi had been enjoying a day out with three pals on April 7. They had been for a walk before heading to High Dam tarn for a swim as temperatures rose.

The Lake District tarn, built in the 19th century, is well-known as a place for swimming and woodland walks.

Absi’s family, including dad Basir and mum Sammi, have been told the provisional cause of death was drowning. The family were told he may have suffered ‘cold water shock’.

Cold water shock is the body’s natural physical reaction to sudden immersion in cold water.

The National Fire Chiefs Council says it can lead to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. As the body tries to keep warm, muscles in the arms and legs begin to cool reducing a person’s ability to swim and stay afloat.

It can happen in water temperatures below 15°C with the average UK sea temperatures being just 12°C.

An inquest into Absi’s death was opened in April at Allerdale House in Whitehaven with a full inquest scheduled for September.

Cumbria Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

On Sunday, the club will also be raising awareness of water safety as part of National Drowning Prevention Week.

The family say they have been comforted by the outpouring of support from people who knew Absi since the tragedy – with more than 200 people attending his funeral at Layton Cemetery.

Absi studied business, economics and maths at Blackpool Sixth Form College and previously went to Hodgson High School and St John’s Primary, both in Poulton.

He was also a member of Fylde Cricket Club in Poulton where he made his senior debut with the club’s third team last season.

The club held tributes to him before pre-season friendly matches on April 11 and 12 with many of his college friends also taking part in the minutes applause in his memory.

A memorial event was also held at Hodgson High on April 24.

The Sheraton Hotel, on Queen’s Promenade, Blackpool – where Absi’s mum works – is also promoting the fundraising appeal.

Money from the appeal will also go towards supporting the family while they are not working – dad Basir is a self-employed taxi driver.

An imam at the family’s local mosque had also set up a fundraiser in memory of Absi to fund projects in Yemen and Afghanistan.