Overview

• Jacob Rutkowski, 20, entered the River Tees at Gainford on June 20 and drowned despite a multi-agency response including air ambulance and mountain rescue teams.
• Friends and relatives returned to the riverside on June 22 to leave flowers, balloons and rock tributes spelling out his name.
• Rutkowski’s family has raised nearly £3,000 through a GoFundMe page to cover funeral and memorial expenses.
• In messages shared online, his family described him as a loving son, brother and boyfriend with a heart of gold.
• Guy Addington of the RNLI cautioned that open water can be hazardous and advised against entering areas not officially designated for bathing.