A 13-year-old boy who was found dead in a river in South Wales has been named as Christopher Kapessa.

Police say the teenager’s body was found by emergency services following reports a “young person” was spotted in the River Cynon near Fernhill, Rhondda Cynon Taff, on Monday evening.

On Tuesday, South Wales Police said an investigation was under way into how the Mountain Ash Comprehensive School pupil, from nearby Pontypridd, ended up in the river.

A spokesman said: “South Wales Police can now confirm the identity of the teenage boy whose body was discovered in a stretch of the River Cynon between Mountain Ash and Cwmbach on Monday evening.

“His name is Christopher Kapessa, he was 13 years-old and from the Pontypridd area.

“Specialist teams from South Wales Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to the river at 5.40pm on Monday, 1st July, 2019.

“Christopher’s body was found in the river following an extensive search, but tragically, he was pronounced deceased at the scene shortly after.”

A gofundme page had raised more than £2,000 for the boy’s family of the boy by Tuesday evening.

A message on the fundraising page said: “The family of little Chris are going to be going through the most horrific of times.

“As a community we have always stuck together to aid with financial costs at a loss such as this. It is a small way we can pull together to elevate (sic) some of the heartache the family will be experiencing.”

The author of the page said money raised would be given to the boy’s family “to help with funeral costs and other ways the family feel will lower their stress”.

A tribute left in the Fernhill and Glenboi Community Centre Facebook page the community would offer “full support” to the boy’s family and friends.

Ray Thomas wrote: “As a community we have faced tragedy this evening and collectively our hearts are broken as we feel the loss of one of our own.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with a family whose lives have been torn apart by this tragic loss this evening. There are no words that can offer comfort and there is no way of finding much solace in this situation.

“As a community centre we will offer our full support to the family and friends of Christopher in the coming days and weeks. May you rest in eternal peace young man.”