The relatives of an 18-year-old who lost his life after going into a Powys waterway during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition described him as their loving boy.

Umar Dumbuya, who was from London, passed away after entering the River Wye at Glasbury, close to Hay-on-Wye, on Tuesday June 30 while taking part in the expedition.

His passing triggered a substantial emergency service response involving officers, firefighters, mountain rescue personnel and the National Police Air Service.

In their tribute, Umar’s relatives said they were devastated by the loss of their son, brother and grandson.

They explained that no words could adequately convey the pain the family was experiencing.

They described Umar as a loving young man who would be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

They noted that Umar enjoyed playing basketball, going to the gym, and spending time with friends and relatives.

According to his family, they would always remember Umar for his kindness, warmth and sense of humour.

They added that his death had created an unbearable void in the family and requested privacy during their period of mourning.

Emergency services attended the River Wye at approximately 6.30pm following reports that the teenager had entered the water and could not be found.

An extensive search operation was mounted involving Dyfed-Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Mountain Rescue and the National Police Air Service.

Tragically, Umar’s remains were subsequently recovered from the river.

A Dyfed-Powys Police representative stated that a multi-agency response had been mounted at the River Wye in Glasbury during the evening after a report that an 18-year-old male had entered the water and could not be found.

The representative confirmed that unfortunately the body of a male had been discovered.

The spokesperson expressed sympathy with his family and those close to him during this challenging period.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award organisation reported that it was extremely saddened by the incident.

In a statement, a representative indicated that the organisation was deeply saddened to confirm that on Tuesday evening a young person had drowned while on a DofE expedition in Powys, Wales.

The representative extended sympathies to the young person’s family alongside all those who were participating.

The statement added that the organisation would provide every possible assistance to support them during this difficult time.

According to the statement, DofE was maintaining close contact with the young person’s college and relevant authorities to establish how this tragic event occurred.

The statement emphasised that the safety and wellbeing of young people participating in the Award continued to be the organisation’s paramount concern.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, established by the late Prince Philip in 1956, serves as a youth development programme for individuals aged 14 to 24, with participants working toward Bronze, Silver and Gold awards through volunteering, physical activity, skills development and outdoor expeditions.

Investigations into the circumstances of Umar’s death remain ongoing.