Aspiring teenage footballer, 13, d!es after being thrown into river over £40 debt

An aspiring teenage footballer has d!ed after being allegedly thrown into a fast-flowing river over a £40 debt.

According to Mail Online, Abdou Ngom, 13, was allegedly thrown into the Tanaro River in Verduno, Piedmont region, Italy, after he and four boys travelled there from their homes in a nearby town to spend time at a riverside beach.

The Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office in Turin has reportedly charged one of the teenagers with voluntary manslaughter. He is currently confined to house arrest.

Police interrogations revealed he may have acted to take back €50 (£40) Abdou owed him.

One boy told police: ‘Abdou said he couldn’t swim, but the other guy grabbed him and threw him in the water.’

Despite the good weather on April 21, the day Abdou was allegedly thrown in, the river was treacherous. Rescuers abandoned their search after a week.

Abdou, who was born in Italy and is of Senegalese descent. He leaves behind his mother, father, two brothers, and sister.

His father, Khadim, told local media: ‘He dreamed of becoming a footballer and played for Bra first, then for the team in Roreto, Cherasco.

‘But he couldn’t swim. Unfortunately, I wasn’t home that day, and he left without telling his mum where he was going. Otherwise, we would never have let him go to the river with those friends.

‘I hope this breakthrough in the investigation will at least lead to the search for my Abdou being restarted. I just want them to let us bury his body and have a grave where we can mourn him.’

His family plans to send his body back to Senegal to be buried, once officials find it.