LIFE saving equipment has been installed on Marlow's riverside in memory of a schoolboy Kyrece Francis who died while swimming in the River Thames.

Kyrece tragically lost his life on the first day of the summer holidays last year after getting in to difficulties in the river at Marlow.

Friends and family of the Great Marlow schoolboy rallied together to raise over £40,000 following the tragedy, which has paid for 15 life saving units to be placed along the spot where he died.

The units have been placed along the Thames Path between Bourne End and Marlow, the most recent being placed in Higginson Park, and display the “KY22” logo, representing his football team and the day he died.

The Legacy team gained permission from landowners to erect the units in the same week of the anniversary of Kyrece’s death.

Kyrece’s Mum, Simone Francis said: “Obviously it doesn’t bring Kyrece back but it has helped me to put my grief and sadness in to something positive. The community has supported us to be able to give something back to help others, which in turn has helped me and my family.

“It’s just the start of something and we do intend to place a lot more units. They are in Kyrece’s memory but it is also for the safety and benefit of others so we hope the community will take responsibility in taking care of them.

“I still find it difficult to go down to the river, so I haven’t seen all of the units yet. I have seen the ones in Higginson Park, and it’s really touching to see the equipment with Kyrece’s name on it.”

As well as more units, the Legacy team are planning to install signs warning of the dangers of hidden currents.

Charity secretary and family friend of Kyrece’s, Tracy Chamberlain said: “We just need to keep the momentum going and raise awareness. This is the first phase, and we are hoping to install signage and warn of the dangers, and meet up with other groups to share ideas.”

“Through the RLSS we are hoping work with other groups like ours around the country and raise awareness of the dangers of swimming in open and unsupervised water.”

Kyrece’s Legacy collaborated with the Royal Life Saving Society prior to the summer holidays and distributed information packs to schools with information such as power points and videos to educate children about water safety.