Burntisland: The death of a teenager who drowned on Monday night is being investigated as possibly the first fatality linked to the ice bucket challenge craze.
Cameron Lancaster, 18, died after disappearing under the water at Prestonhill Quarry in Inverkeithing, Fife, on Sunday evening. It is thought that he took part in the ice bucket challenge before entering the water in the quarry, reported a newspaper.
The ice bucket challenge has spawned hundreds of internet videos of famous and non-famous alike being doused in cold water to raise awareness and money for the fight against motor neurone disease.
Among those to have taken part are Victoria Beckham, the model Cara Delevingne, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, former US President George W Bush who had a bucket of water poured over his head by his wife Laura.
The ice bucket challenge has raised at least £250,000 for the UK Motor Neurone Disease Association and $62.5million (£37.7million) for its equivalent the ALS Association in the US, where the craze originated.
Lancaster’s death, however, is thought to be the first fatality directly linked to the ice bucket challenge. Emergency services were called to the quarry at 5pm on Sunday and the body of Mr Lancaster from Burntisland, Fife, was recovered after a four-hour search of the deep water.
One witness, Wilma Sutherland, 41, reportedly said: “I asked my son who’s 15 if he had heard anything and he told me that a young guy had taken part in the ice bucket challenge and then jumped in the quarry and didn’t come up.
“It’s a popular spot for swimming and I’ve seen lots of teenagers jumping in. The family of Lancaster, who was about to start at Edinburgh Napier University, on Monday paid tribute to his “friendliness, kindness and thoughtful generosity of spirit”. In a statement released via Police Scotland they said: “His death is such a great loss.
“During his short life, he touched so many people with his friendliness, kindness and thoughtful generosity of spirit. He will be hugely missed by his family and friends.”
A police spokesman reportedly said: “Inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances of what happened and Police Scotland’s thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time.”
