41 heartwarming photos of Fylde Cricket Club memorial match in honour of Poulton 17-year-old Absi Ahmed

A Fylde coast community has gathered for a heart-warming memorial cricket match in honour of a 17-year-old who tragically died in April.

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, Absi’s friends, family, and fellow members of the Poulton community have have held a memorial cricket match and fundraising event in his honour at Fylde Cricket Club in Poulton where Absi was a member and where he made his senior debut with the club’s third team last season.

Called Absi’s Memorial Match, the match took place on Sunday June 14 and featured a fun cricket match followed by a tribute and remembrance evening. Absi’s friends have also raised over £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’.

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.