Ross Carroll, 11, from Salford, was with friends when it is thought he was swept underwater.
Police launched a massive search after the alarm was raised at 6pm last night.
Several police officers waded into the pond to seacrh for Ross, of Barton Lane, Barton, after being told by a group of distressed boys that their friend had disappeared.
It happened close to the David Lloyd leisure centre on Barton Embankment, between the Trafford Centre and the Manchester Ship Canal. Police were helped by members of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's water incident team, based at Eccles.
A police helicopter was also called to the area - an acre fenced off with signs warning of deep water and soft ground.
Members of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team found the boy's body after they entered the water in kayaks at about 8.30pm. A police spokesman said: "We diverted everything we had to the area. Several police officers went into the water to try to locate the boy.
Distressed
"The youths on the embankment were incredibly distressed. Unfortunately, a body was found at 8.30pm."
A North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman said two other boys were taken to Salford Royal Hospital, but their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. She said they had two rapid response vehicles, two ambulances and members of the services new Hazardous Area Rescue Team at the scene.
A lane called Old Barton Road, which connects to Redclyffe Road, was also closed off during the search. Emergency workers spent more than an hour searching the water after arriving on the scene, where the boy's friends pointed out where he had disappeared.
Rescuers in kayaks frantically searched the water, alongside firefighters wearing drysuits and flotation aids and using fixed lines.
A fire service spokesman said: "We searched the location in conjunction with police officers, mountain rescuers, and the ambulance service but unfortunately we were unable to locate the boy in time."
Police said the family of the boy have been informed. Tweet
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Other than sincere condolences to the parents, family and friends of this lad there is nothing more that can be said other than boys will be boys and, sadly, suffer the consequences sometimes of being so.
Other than giving sincere condolences to the parents, family and friends of this lad there is little more that can be said other than boys will be boys and, sadly, sometimes suffer the consequences of being so.
Very sad news.
It's no good saying these boys should not have been in this dangerious area because quite simply it's to late for that now.
Hopefully steps will be taken by the power that be so that this can't happen again..
Sincere condolences to the parents at this time.
"Hopefully steps will be taken by the power that be so that this can't happen again.."
Like putting up fencing, and signs warning of danger, perhaps?
Was down there only last week walking the dog and there were kids swimming in it then, there is a tiny fence up and a sign. I feel sick as we commented it was a disaster waiting to happen. My thoughts are with the family and friends of the boy also x
Savage Mandarin, Manchester
"Hopefully steps will be taken by the power that be so that this can't happen again.."
“Like putting up fencing, and signs warning of danger, perhaps”?
Do you really believe that doing this will stop kids going into lakes like this one?, I don’t think so, you only have to look at the number of deaths on railway lines each year and most of them have fences and signs.
Who is responsible for this area not being properly fenced off? children will be children and they will always play near water. If it had been properly fenced off then this would not have happened. My thoughts go out to the parents and extended family and friends of this little boy.
Savage Mandarin, Manchester
If you read the article and looked at the attached photograph you would not have failed to notice that the area is fenced off and that there is a notice warning of the danger of being in the area. As I commented earlier, although it is sad that a youngster has lost his life in such tragic circumstances it is sometimes the consequence of boys being boys and doing what they do at that age in search of adventure.
Jan2, Prestwich
“A police helicopter was also called to the area - an acre fenced off with signs warning of deep water and soft ground”.
If you read the story it does say that it is fenced off and has signs, but as you say kids will be kids
But matter how high the fences are or how many signs you have kids will still find a way in
I work next to the area of land and yesterday whilst leaving work I saw a police helicopter circling over the site. An hour and a half later when I left the gym next door, the road was filled with rescue workers (ambulances, police, mountain rescue). From my vantage point at work I have seen over the summer months, many kids swimming in the stagnent water and some even camping on the ledge above the waters edge. When the construction workers left the site last winter they left a orange, squared, plastic "fence" around the water, but that was prompty removed, and the remaining fence is hardly sufficient to keep anyone out. This is a real tragedy and I can only hope that the water is filled in or the construction work is completed so that this cannot happen again.
Obviously this is a tragedy - but why should anyone be blamed?
It is impossible to fence off every danger spot, and even if it was fences are not designed to be impassible - it is assumed they will act as a deterent and an indicator - along with the signs.
As people have said boys will be boys - just as they always have been. But 40 years ago people would have accepted that and boys would be expected to assess the risk themselves rather than relying on fences and signs.
sympathaties to the family and friends of this child, What a tragic story and terrible accident
tragic story. thoughts are with the family.
no one is to be blamed for this. we need common sense in this country. Growing up as a kid i used to get up to all sorts and i have waded through water waist high and jumped walls and gone into derelict buildings with mates. it is part of growing up and lads will always be lads. sometimes tragedy strikes and it is a reminder that things can go wrong.
May I offer my sincere condolences. What a tragedy.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT FAULT FOR THIS TRAGEDY ARE THE ONES WHO GAVE THE CONSTUCTION PERMITS AND NEVER FOLLOWED UP ON THE LAND BEING SAFE AFTER SUCH EARTH MOVING CHANGES.
IF THIS WAS A RESULT OF TRAFFORD COUNCILS PLANNING THEN THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE AT FAULT. WHEN A COUNCIL ASK FOR BOND MONEYS UP FRONT FROM THE DEVELOPERS, ITS TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LOSE ENDS SUCH AS DRAINAGE PONDS THAT ARE UN SAFE. THE TRAFFORD CENTER ALONE MUST GENERATE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF RUN OFF WATERS. WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ASKING IS WHERE ON EARTH IT IS BEING DIVERTED TO, EITHER IN TO THE STORM DRAINS AND IN TO THE MERSEY OR SHIP CANAL OR HOLDING PONDS FOR NATUARAL SATURATION IN TO GROUND WATERS. SOME BODY IS TO BLAME BUT WILL THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO COME FORWARD AND ADMIT THEY DID NOT DO ALL THEY COULD TO KEEP AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD FROM HARMS WAY BY NOT BUILDING A SUFFICIENT SAFETY BARRIER TO KEEP JUST ONE KID FROM DROWNING.. WHEN I WAS A KID I PLAYED IN THE FLOOD PLAINS OF THE MERSEY CLOSE TO THE SHIP CANAL. I CAN EVEN SHOW YOU WHERE THEY DUMPED HUNDREDS OF TONS OF MUNICAPAL WASTE INCLUDING HOSPITAL WASTE AND NOT EXCLUDING TONS OF BUILDING GRADE ASBESTOS WASTE ALL IN THE FORGOTTEN FLOOD PLAINS OF THE MERSEY. DEVELOPERS LEAVE TOWN QUICKLY WHO CARES ABOUT BOND MONEYS WHEN CLEAN AND REGRADING COST SO MUCH MORE, KEEP THE BOND MONEYS BUY A KIDS PLAY GROUND.
Absolutely agree with the "boys will be boys" sentiments. Life without danger would be intolerable. As the father of two boys myself, and a regular visitor to the local A&E as a consequence, I feel that "there but for the grace of God go I" but wouldn't have it any other way. Human security, evolution and scientific advancement depend on the "risk" instinct of boys and their never-ending quest for exploration and excitement. Heartfelt sympathies to the family.
Whilst this is a heartbreaking story, I can't help but agree with those who say that boys willbe boys and that no-one is to blame. As the father of two boys, one about to go off to Afghanistan, I was a regular visitor to A& E and wouldn't have it any other way. Human advancement has always relied on boys' instinct for adventure, exploration and risk and always will. Heartfelt sympathy with this family and all those who have suffered similarly. There but for the grace of God go the families of all boys.
Whilst it is a heartbreaking story and my condolences go out to the family and friends of this poor child, I do not agree with blaming everyone else, there were signs and fencing round to protect people but they chose to adventure on. People are killed in the mountains of Britain every year, should we blame the national parks for not having handrails etc. People get a buzz out of taking risks and unfortunately, sometimes come off worse and as Deano58 said, humans would not have advanced if they had not been adventurous
The boys in this story are typical boy that are bored of the 6 weeks school holiday. God bless the family