A heartbreaking photo has emerged of a teen’s final embrace with her boyfriend after he was left brain dead following an accident at a British beach.
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Just days after he was pulled from the sea in Tywyn, Gwynedd, in north-west Wales, doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital decided that there was nothing more they could do for 16-year-old Blake Ward. His family were informed that Blake had suffered extensive brain damage, and would never recover from the ordeal.
With this in mind, the decision was taken to remove his life support and let him pass away.
“Today has been the hardest day for me and it will be a day I will never be able to forget,” wrote Blake’s girlfriend, Stephanie, in a heart-wrenching Facebook post. “As some of you may know Blake was involved in a terrible accident on Tuesday.”
She continued:
“I have been by his side through it all and I haven’t left him. As you all know Blake was a loving a caring person and would do anything for anyone. We [were] told yesterday that Blake would never recover and his brain was too damaged and we had to make the hard decision of turning his machine off and let him go.”
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Blake was rushed to the hospital along with two others, who are also thought to be in a serious condition.
“Blake was someone special to me and we had something special and we will always have that. Me and Blake had our ups and downs but we always got through them,” Stephanie wrote. “But just know Blake wasn’t in any pain and he passed away with his family around him and he will forever be missed and he will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget you Blake fly high my baby boy and I’m gonna make you proud love you and I always will.”
“Blake, our beautiful, brave, kind-hearted, clever boy sadly passed away at 7:03 this morning,” wrote Stephanie’s mom, Becky. “Even though he hadn’t been part of our family for long his loss has left us beyond devastated and heartbroken. Sleep tight sweet angel you truly were too good for this world. We will never forget you.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help raise money for Blake’s funeral. The page reads:
“As many of you know Our sweet innocent loving Blake was horribly taken by a rip tide. He was our loving and caring 16 year old bright eyed boy. We are asking for donations towards his funeral as it’s a very unexpected cost. Any donations at all would be greatly appreciated.”
Many have left comments of condolence on the page.
“My heart breaks for you. May the memories of your time together be with you always and give you strength. I survived being caught in a rip tide at the same age. I’m so sorry he wasn’t able to,” one person wrote. “Such a sad loss for you all. Our hearts go out to you all at this very sad time. Your all in our prayers,” another added.
According to Cumbrian News, Blake’s is the second death in three years off the coast of Tywyn, Wales.
A 74-year-old man, Richard Guest, lost his life in July 2015 after attempting to rescue two teenage girls.