Johannesburg - It was one of the hottest days of summer in the UK, so Robbie Lea and his friends, Kieran Cook and Jayden Baldwin, decided to cool down in a local river.
But what was supposed to be a fun day out turned fatal for the teenager last year and was followed by more than a year of heartache for his mother and younger brother.
Sarah Lea (33) and her son, Mason (7), have struggled to come to terms with the death of Robbie last year but are thankful for Prince William.
Because although the Duke of Cambridge’s efforts proved unsuccessful, he was determined to save the teen’s life.
Sarah didn’t know William had been involved in rescue efforts until the day after Robbie’s death, when a friend told her “a prince tried to save your prince”, writes Huffington Post.
“I can't thank Prince William enough. For what he did to try to save my son on that terrible day and for now speaking out on mental health issues,” she told the Mirror about the fateful day in May last year.
According to Mail Online, Robbie (16) had been out with Kieran and Jayden on 25 May when he drowned, an inquest heard.
Sarah said Robbie had been for swimming lessons when he was younger but “was not a strong swimmer”.
When emergency services were dispatched to search the scene, Prince William was at the helm of the air ambulance.
Rescuers found the body four metres under the water in Lee Valley Park in Hertfordshire, an hour after the search began, Mail Online adds.
Sarah says she and Mason have struggled to come to terms with the loss of Robbie and have received little support from the government.
“I have really been let down by the system.
“There’s been very little support at all. I’m still in therapy with bereavement and psychiatric counselling but my father-in-law has had to pay for it privately.
“And I’ve struggled to get the right support for Mason. But I certainly haven’t been let down by Prince William.”
Sources: MAIL ONLINE, MIRROR, HUFFINGTON POST