Lifeguard, 18, found dead in bedroom just weeks after saving drowning child
His family have paid tribute.
A teenager who died suddenly at his home had saved a child’s life just weeks before.
Rory Wai, 18, was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Wivenhoe, Essex, by his brother William, 20, on Tuesday evening following a suspected heart attack.
Despite help from paramedics and his brother trying to revive him for an hour, they were unable to resuscitate him.
Rory had saved a young boy from drowning just a few weeks before he died while working as a lifeguard in Clacton during the summer holidays.
Rory’s parents were on holiday at the time of his sudden death and his mum, Sally Anderson-Wai, has now paid tribute.
According to Sally, William found Rory collapsed on his bed after not hearing from him for a while.
Sally said: ‘He was working as a lifeguard during the summer holidays. He would come home and he was usually a bit tired at that time of the day.
‘Me and my husband were in Greece and our eldest son was at home. Rory had gone for a lie down. His brother went into his room and found him collapsed on the bed.
‘He called the ambulance and they were guiding him through CPR, he was working on him until the paramedics arrived. Our neighbour ran round and opened the door for them.
‘A police officer told us that they hadn’t been able to revive him. They said it looked as if he had been dead for a while before his brother found him.’
Paramedics at the scene said they believed Rory had a fatal heart attack and said his blood sugar level was low when he was found.
His death has now been passed onto the coroner.
Rory worked as a lifeguard at Brightlingsea Lido and Valley Farm Caravan Park in Clacton during the summer.
Sally said: ‘On the second day of starting as a lifeguard he saved someone’s life. Someone was shouting for help and a boy was going under the water in the deep end.
‘A woman from the park called us and gave us some lovely feedback about him.’
A book of condolences has now been created at the park where people have been leaving tributes.
A memorial was held at St James’ Church in Brightlingsea on Thursday where friends and family held a minute’s silence.
Sally, continued: ‘He went to school in Brightlingsea, he was a great student. He got three A*s and three A’s at GCSE, and he was debating whether to go to university.
‘He asked if he could have gap year and he was saving up to go travelling.
‘He was the happiest he’d been for a long time.
‘I’ve been overwhelmed by the messages we’ve received from all over the world. He was very popular and he had lots of friends, a lot of them are really upset.
‘We’re trying to get through it by remembering all the good times.’