Overview

• On May 18, 2024, Aras Rudzianskas, 13, and David Radut, 14, drowned in the River Tyne after being swept away by strong currents.
• Aras heroically jumped into the river to save David, but both boys tragically lost their lives despite rescue efforts.
• On the one-year anniversary, a memorial plaque was installed at Ovingham Riverside to honor their memory and discourage unsafe river activities.
• Aras's mother, Egle Rudzianskas, described him as a kind and selfless boy, expressing pride in his bravery and grief over the loss.
• The community also planted an oak tree, Lithuania's national symbol, at a local youth club to commemorate Aras and strengthen calls for river safety awareness.