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Craig Sommerfield, who would have been celebrating his 12th birthday last Sunday, was with two friends when he is believed to have developed cramp in the 15ft-deep pond on the park golf course.

Despite rescue efforts by his friends, two golfers and the fire brigade, the boy, from Beswick, sank to the bottom of the pond in seconds. His body was recovered several hours later by police divers.

A spokesman for Manchester City Council which runs the park expressed sympathy to the boy's family but said he should not have been in the area.

The spokesman said: "It is important that parents and children avoid areas where there are open and unmanaged waters."