Dozens of videos have been shared on TikTok over the weekend, with schoolfriends posting clips and memories of Izaiah, accompanied by emotional messages and tributes.
Many posts show friends recounting happy moments, reflecting on his character, and expressing their grief over his sudden loss.
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@romz.t ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐. โค๏ธ๐๏ธ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ข ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐. #๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ #LLIS #LLIizaiah โฌ original sound – kayode
@incogoris not izaiah(brendan) #LLIS #dead #rip โฌ So Innocent (Slowed Down) – sleepy dawg & Shiloh Dynasty
On Facebook, hundreds of condolences have also been left under a News Shopper post linking to the original story about the incident, with people across London and beyond sending thoughts to Izaiahโs family and friends.
One person wrote, โa much-loved young person gone too soon,โ while another said, โThinking of his family and friends.โ
Many others echoed similar sentiments, keeping Izaiahโs loved ones in their thoughts.
READ MORE:ย โKind and respectfulโ boy, 15, who died in Beckenham lake named by football club
SEDA Academy, where Izaiah was a youth footballer, also issued a heartfelt statement: โIt is with the heaviest of hearts that SEDA Academy mourns the loss of our beloved U16s player, Izaiah Smith, who passed away on April 4.
โWe are absolutely heartbroken by this news.
โIzaiah was such a bright light within our programme.โ
The academy said Izaiah was โalways presentโ at training and greeted everyone with the โmost adorableโ smile.
SEDA Academy added: โHis huge character and infectious energy will be deeply missed by us all.
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@itxlovii my angel ๐. forever iziaiahโs world
โHe was a truly respectful young man, always showing kindness and consideration to all the coaches and staff at SEDA Academy.
โWe all had so much time for Izaiah. He touched so many lives within our academy family.
โOur deepest condolences go out to his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
โWe hope they are able to grieve in the way that brings them some comfort.
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@jb.2k7 Rest up bro๐๐๏ธ Iโd take ur place if I could๐ #LLIS #fyp #rip #incogoris โฌ original sound – ยฃJB
โThe players and coaching staff at SEDA Academy will forever cherish the memories we shared with Izaiah.
โWe hope our dear Izaiah rests peacefully.
โYou will always be in our hearts.โ
Emergency services were called to the park in Lewisham shortly after 3pm on Friday (April 4), amid reports that a boy had gone missing in the water.
Specialist divers, firefighters, and ambulance crews assisted in the search.
Scotland Yard confirmed that the search was called off later that night after a body was recovered from the lake at around 10.42pm.
โHe was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead,โ a Met spokesperson said.
โHis death is being treated as unexpected but not believed to be suspicious.โ
Izaiahโs family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
In a statement, Lewisham Council โ which manages Beckenham Place Park โ said the park reopened on Saturday, but the lake remains closed, with security in place until further notice.
โWe are working closely with the police to ensure their investigation establishes the full facts of what has happened,โ the council said.
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