A "distressed" boy tried to rescue his friend who couldn't swim before a teen was pulled from a river and pronounced dead, a witness said.
Police and rescue teams were scrambled to the village of Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire on Saturday evening after reports of four male teenagers entering the water.
A huge search operation was launched with "masses of officers" deployed to the area and assisted by the force helicopter.
One boy, who is believed to be a pupil in Year 8, was rescued from the water but sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
The three other boys were found safe and received medical attention.
Sarah, who was in a nearby pub at the time, claimed that one of the teenagers had tried to save his friend who was unable to swim.
She told the Mirror: "We just saw people crying and loads of emergency services turned up. I saw a couple of lads running around wet and a very distressed boy with the paramedics.
"He apparently tried to save his friend who couldn’t swim. They were messing around prior to pushing each other and jumping off the bridge.
"The pub was asked to turn the music off and then everyone was asked to leave."
A helicopter with a bright searchlight was seen circling the village for around an hour, said another eyewitness who was at the pub.
They added: "We cut our night short because it didn't feel right having a laugh while all of this was happening outside."
Family and friends have started leaving flowers along the bank where the boy was pulled from the river.
Writing on Facebook, the boy's mum thanked everyone for keeping them in their thoughts.
She said: "I am the mother of the boy that tragically lost his life in the River Soar yesterday.
"I have seen everybody's kind comments and would just like to say thank you for keeping us in your thoughts at this difficult time.
"For anybody wanting to leave flowers for my son, I’ve started putting them around the tree on the bank where he was pulled from the river. Opposite the moorings pub".
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was first alerted at 9.09pm and sent a specialist water rescue team to the scene.
Police officers joined shortly afterwards.
A force spokesperson said: "At 9.15pm yesterday (Saturday 13 May) officers were called to the area of Bridge Street in Barrow-upon-Soar by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.
"It was reported that four teenage boys had entered the water. Following a search of the water, one boy was rescued but was pronounced dead a short time later.
"The other three were found safe and received medical attention."
