EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a "funny and kind hearted" Netherton schoolboy who died after being rescued from the sea in Wales.

Hillcrest School and Community College student Blake Ward got into difficulty when he was in the water in Tywyn on Tuesday afternoon.

The 16-year-old and two other teenagers - a 14-year-old girl and a boy, aged  16 - were rescued by RNLI volunteers and members of the public.

Blake was airlifted to Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital but tragically, the difficult decision to turn off his life support machine was made on Saturday morning (August 4).

Floral tributes have been placed at the Simms Lane school and principal April Garratt said staff were "deeply saddened" to learn of Blake's tragic death.

She continued: “Blake was a wonderful young man, his teachers would say of him that he was bright, funny and kind hearted.

"It is such a tragedy when a young life is taken especially in these circumstances.

"Our thoughts are with Blake's family and the school will do all it can to support them and our students."

She continued: "The next time our students, Blake's peers, will be together is on results day, the 23rd of August. This is always a time of excitement and anticipation but will be a time a great sadness as Blake should have been collecting his own GCSE results.

"Staff will be on hand to support students during this time.

"When we return in September we will speak of this tragedy to students through assemblies and offer support where it is needed through both our own staff and our counselling service.

"We will contact local further education providers to make them aware of the situation so that they can be mindful of any of our ex pupils requiring additional support. Children know that the school has a strong pastoral system in place to support them.

"Many staff have already made personal donations to the Gofund page for Blake and the school will also contribute via its benevolent fund.

"We will also look at creating an award in honour of Blake, the details of this will be discussed with his family before being finalised.”

Blake's heartbroken girlfriend Stephanie Ray has also led tributes on social media.

She wrote on Saturday: "Today has been the hardest day for me and it will be a day I will never be able to forget. As some of you may know Blake was involved in a terrible accident on Tuesday.

"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 was 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.

"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.

"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."

Tammy Farrington also took to Facebook to write: "RIP Blake, you put so many smiles on so many faces over the years. I know that my son Jack will miss you. Our thoughts are with Blake's family and also those that know him at this difficult time."

Leanne Turley added: "RIP Blake, thank you for being such a good friend to my brother."