POLICE divers recovered the body of a teenage boy from the Blue Lagoon in the early hours of Monday morning. The 16-year-old, who has been named as Michael Akinwunmi from London, was staying with family friends in Letchworth GC when he vanished while swimming

POLICE divers recovered the body of a teenage boy from the Blue Lagoon in the early hours of Monday morning.

The 16-year-old, who has been named as Michael Akinwunmi from London, was staying with family friends in Letchworth GC when he vanished while swimming in the notorious lagoon shortly after 5pm.

Police called in the force helicopter to use heat seeking equipment to try and find the boy whose body was eventually recovered at 1am.

Police have so far been unable to contact his mother and stepfather who are on holiday in Africa to inform them of the tragic news.

During the search operation a paramedic's vehicle was broken into and a radio, mobile phone, digital camera and a canister of pain relief nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, stolen.

Today both the police and ambulance service slammed the theft saying: "This paramedic lost all his ability to communicate with colleagues. He was the first paramedic on the scene and was there to try and save a life and his vehicle is broken into.

"Words to describe a person who does this are unprintable."

Police said around 300 people had gathered at the lagoon which is on private land to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far. Some people had camped overnight as tents were pitched on the banks.

"Only members of the sailing club and angling club have permission to go there. Most of the people who were there yesterday were there illegally and trespassing," said a police spokesman.

"It seems nobody listens to all the warnings that are given about the lagoon and how dangerous it is. It was another hot day and another needless tragedy."

The name of the dead boy is expected to be released later today (Monday).

An 18-year-old Luton man died at the lagoon in June, 2005 after jumping into the water from a boat. In July 2001, three children drowned when they were trapped in the back of a car which plunged into the water.