Jet ski victim, 14, fighting for survival after arm severed in night time Sylvania crash

Traumatised friends of Mitchell Irvine, 15, who died in a horror jet ski crash, have paid tribute to him. It comes as health officials have given an update on his friend, 14.

• Everything we know so far

Huddled in tears, friends of Mitchell Irvine, who died in a horror jet ski crash, paid solemn tribute to the schoolboy with a “pure heart” as his injured friend lay in hospital.

The young friends of the schoolboy, 15, and Noah Watkins, 14, whose arm was severed when the jet ski they were travelling on along the Georges River in Sylvania crashed, amassed in a silent vigil at the crash site in Sydney’s south on Wednesday.

Swaddled in jumpers and hoodies in the winter sunshine, they lay floral tributes and an Orthodox wooden cross at the boat ramp under Tom Uglys Bridge.

Bouquets of flowers, a pair of vapes and candles were placed at the base of the memorial, reading ‘Noah’ and ‘LLM’ — ‘Long Live Mitch’.

Graffiti on nearby signage read ‘Rest up Noah’, ‘Forever 15’ and ‘Rest easy Mitchy get well Noah’.

Saddened friends of Mitchell Irvine, 15, gather for a vigil to remember “the boy with heart” who died in a jetski accident on the Georges River in Sylvania in Sydney’s south, as his friend, lays critical in hospital. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Mitch’s friend Alana said the 15-year-old “had such a pure heart”.

“He always decided to help people out, even if he wasn’t good mates with them,” she said.

Alana said all of Noah Watkins’ friends “wish him a speedy recovery”.

“Everyone’s worried about him,” she added.

The pair were travelling together on a jet ski as light faded about 6pm when they hit an obstacle in the water, thought to be a barge, and were thrown off course.

Two horrified girls on the shoreline spotted drifting debris in the water after hearing Noah Watkins shout frantically for help and alerted emergency services.

The friends lay floral tributes under Tom Ugly Bridge where the jetski accident happened on Tuesday night. Picture: Thomas Lisson

First responders arrived within minutes and found Noah, a student at De La Salle Catholic College in Caringbah, distressed, face down, trying to tread water.

He was pulled out of the water and treated at shore before he was raced by ambulance to Sydney Children’s Hospital.

His severed arm was later located by NSW Police.

The tearful friends remembered Mitchell Irvine, 15, and prayed for the swift recovery of Noah Watkins, 14. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Attempts to resuscitate Mitchell Irvine on shore were unsuccessful.

Sydney Children’s Hospital said on Thursday Mr Watkins was currently in a stable condition.

A source close to the family said: “This is a difficult time for the parents, this is a tragedy that’s happened to their son and they’re very worried.”

On Wednesday afternoon, police said both boys had been wearing life jackets, which they believe helped save Noah as he drifted in and out of consciousness in the water.

Noah is believed to have been driving the jet ski when it crashed.

Emotional friends gathered at the spot on the Georges River under Tom Ugly Bridge and overlook the river were the accident happened. Picture: Thomas Lisson

A makeshift memorial marks the spot at Tom Uglys Bridge where a 15 year old boy died in a jetski accident and another lost his arm. Picture: Thomas Lisson

An investigation was underway by NSW Maritime to establish whether he held a person watercraft licence.

NSW Police Superintendent Don Faulds labelled the efforts of the first responders “amazing” and revealed the jet ski is believed to belong to one of the families.

Mitchell Irvine who was killed.. Picture: Supplied

Friends say he had “such a pure heart”. Picture: Supplied

Inspector Timothy Carter also earlier praised the swift actions of emergency responders as “heroic.”

“The police have done their best to try and save these kids’ lives,” he said. “We obviously feel great empathy towards the families.”

Police and ambulance were called to the scene at the Georges River near Tom Uglys Bridge. Picture: TNV

A crime scene has been established at the location and investigations into the circumstance of the crash continue.

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Originally published as Jet ski victim, 14, fighting for survival after arm severed in night time Sylvania crash