Boy, 17, found dead in Chirk Castle lake after friend's desperate 999 call

Boy, 17, found dead in Chirk Castle lake after friend's desperate 999 call Libya-born student Ashamekh Bortata, from Liverpool, was found dead on April 7 after a friend called 999 and told responders he was drowning in the lake beside Chirk CastleNewsGlyn Bellis and Zahra Khaliq News Reporter18:48, 13 Apr 2026Updated 18:58, 13 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesEmergency services were called to the scene near Chirk Castle(Image: No credit - free to use)A 17-year-old boy who was tragically found dead in a lake near Wrexham has been named.‌Libya-born student Ashamekh Bortata, from Liverpool, was found on April 7 after emergency services received a 999 call from a friend who said the teenager was in the lake beside Chirk Castle and drowning. An inquest into Ashamekh's death was opened at Ruthin, North Wales, today.‌On the afternoon of April 7, emergency services were called to the area by a friend of the teenager who reported the youngster was drowning, Coroner John Gittins said.‌View 2 ImagesAshamekh BortataPolice arrived at the scene and encountered several young people who had travelled from the Liverpool area and walked through the castle grounds. Mr Gittins said they had encountered woodland and the lake and Ashamekh entered the water, reports Wales Online.Article continues belowNorth Wales Fire Service also attended the scene and conducted a search. This continued the next day when police divers located a body.The coroner stated a pathologist had provided a provisional cause of death of drowning. Mr Gittins added: "Clearly it's a matter which must now proceed to an inquest."The hearing was adjourned for further investigation into the tragedy.