'Very upsetting' - Sadness after body found in river search for student
The widow of a man who died in the River Severn last year says news of a student’s body being found in the water is “very upsetting”.
Kirsty Walsh, the new ambassador of West Mercia Search and Rescue, is the widow of Shane Walsh, who died in the river at Shrewsbury last year.
Today she spoke about the news of the body of Jurij Kmito being found.
She said: “It’s very upsetting as it brings it all back to see people are missing and knowing their families are going through what I went through.
"I wish I could save everybody but realistically it doesn’t work like that, but by going out on patrols it’s my way of helping.”
Mrs Walsh joined patrols to look for the 21-year-old University Centre Shrewsbury student on Saturday evening.
“It went really well again, it was really positive,” she said.
“Myself and another team member followed a gentleman who was intoxicated and very unsteady on his feet as he was walking near the river.
"We followed him until the point the street ambassadors took over. That was really positive knowing that potentially we kept somebody safe.
“We also spoke to a group of teenagers who were sat by the water so we spoke to them about river safety.
"And one member encountered somebody who was close to the water by the Theatre Severn. It turned out he was recovering a life ring that someone had thrown into the water.
“It was a very productive night. I go home feeling like I’ve done something positive.”
West Mercia Search and Rescue will be at Sainsbury’s in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at the town’s River Festival on Sunday. Mrs Walsh added: “We’ll be doing throw bag line demonstrations at the River Festival.”
