A teenager died after jumping into a canal with his friends despite not being able to swim in a bid to overcome his fear of water, his mum has said.

Flavio Rafael Pizarro, 13, known to friends and family as Rafael, died in hospital nine days after being pulled from the Rochdale canal near Boarshaw Clough Way, Middleton , on June 5.

The teenager gave the gift of life by donating his organs, with the permission of his family and doctors.

His family is now calling on the Canal and River Trust to do more to warn young people of the dangers of jumping into water. There are no warning signs on that area of the canal.

After the inquest, Rafael’s mum Maria told the M.E.N.: “I lost my son. How many children have to die to be able to put some signage in place?”

Rochdale Coroners' Court heard that Rafael had been out playing football with his friends, when they received a message from other friends inviting them to join them at the canal.

Rafael and his friend Benjamin Charlton then joined schoolmates Jasmine Lee and Megan Quinn at about 7pm.

The court heard that the girls had already been in the water earlier on the ‘hot and sunny’ day.

Despite not being able to swim Rafael climbed down the ladder at the canal to test the temperature of the water, and climbed back up before vowing to jump in at the same time as his classmates at St Anne’s Academy, also aged 13.

The four friends jumped in, but tragedy struck as Rafael began ‘panicking’ and ‘gasping for breath’.

Det Sgt Timothy O’Callaghan from GMP told the court that Rafael was ‘flinging his arms around’.

He spent at least 20 minutes under water. Maria broke down as details were read out in court.

His friends tried to save him and called the emergency services, and two passing dog walkers also jumped in a bid to help the teenager.

But it was not until police and the fire service were able to open the lock at the canal, to release some water and reduce the depth, that Rafael’s body was recovered.

Paramedics administered CPR to stabilise Rafael, and he was rushed to hospital.

However he suffered brain injuries and was put on life support.

He died in the early hours of June 14, with Maria being joined by Rafael’s father, who lives in Angola, at a bedside vigil.

Maria told the court that despite being a sporty boy who enjoyed playing football and basketball, Rafael had never completed swimming lessons.

She said: “My thoughts are that on that particular day he tried to overcome his fear of the water, because he was seeing his friends jumping into the water as well.”

The court heard that Rafael had been to the canal with his friend before, but he was advised against returning by his brother.

(Image: Matt Ratcliffe)

Maria, who followed the proceedings through an interpreter, said she wasn’t aware of this, but called on warning signs to be put up near canals to warn other children.

Det Sgt O’Callaghan said he was told the Trust said it wouldn’t be ‘feasible’ for signs to be erected over such a ‘vast area’.

He added that police officers visited nearby schools to warn of the dangers of water in the weeks after the incident.

The court heard that Rafael and his family moved to England from Portugal when he was 10, settling in Middleton.

Rafael, the youngest of five children, was an ‘active’ boy who had lots of friends at school, Maria said.

Recording a verdict of misadventure and pledging to write to the Canal and River Trust, assistant coroner Julie Robertson said: “I’m not satisfied that enough has been done.”

Steve Astles, safety advisor at the Canal and River Trust said: “We’re are deeply saddened about the tragic accident which happened in June where Rafael drowned in the Rochdale Canal and offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

"We are aware now that this particular lock on the Rochdale Canal is a known hotspot for young people jumping in the canal during the summer.

"The Trust is working with the local community and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service on a targeted campaign to educate people about the dangers of playing and swimming in open water which will include installing signage at known hotspots along the canals in Greater Manchester.”.