Plaque laid in memory of man who died after being pulled from river

One week after Bradford man Luke Lozowski, 45, who has been named locally, was pulled from the River Aire by the emergency services and later died in hospital, his friends gathered at The Boathouse pub next to Roberts Park today to pay tribute and lay flowers and a plaque by a tree in his memory.

Luke Lozowski, who has been locally, died after being pulled from a river at Saltaire (Image: UGC)

They also swapped stories about Luke, who was a talented digital creator and a volunteer at the nearby Windhill Community Centre.

The group of his friends gathered outside the pub to watch his close friend Phil Wainwright lay a plaque at the base of a mature tree in the pub’s garden.

The plaque laid in memory of Luke Lozowski (Image: Newsquest)

The plaque, which bore Luke’s name, said: “My brilliant and kind friend. You will always be missed.”

It also had the same message engraved in Polish, Luke’s native language, just below.

Phil said: “I’ve known him quite a long time – almost ten years.

Friends of Luke Lozowski paid tribute at The Boathouse pub in Saltaire on Saturday (Image: Newsquest)

“He was a wonderful person and very clever.

“He was digital creator and had a huge amount of talent. He taught people about 3D digital modelling.

Phil Wainwright, a close friend of Luke Lozowski (Image: Newsquest)

“I’ve never met anyone quite like him.

“I would prefer to be anywhere in the world but here if we could have him back. It’s devastating.

Flowers laid in tribute to Luke Lozowski (Image: Newsquest)

“We’ve laid a plaque because I want people to know the real Luke. He was truly wonderful.”

His friend, Ben Cummins, said: “I met him at the Bread and Roses community project in the city centre.

Luke Lozowksi was known as a talented photographer and here was one of the images he captured (Image: Luke Lozowski)

“He was a very creative person who was a great photographer.

“He worked with new technologies and was very passionate to share his skills.

Luke Lozowksi was known as a talented photographer and here was another image he captured (Image: Luke Lozowski)

“We collaborated and inspired each other.

“He also cared about the community.”

Haley Darwent, a trustee at Windhill Community Centre where Luke volunteered to help with the food share programme, said: “Luke came for the food but as a way of giving back he wanted to help.

“He always wanted to help people. He always came in and was really happy.

“He was so intelligent. It was nice to hear his stories about where he’s been and what he’s done.

“His death is so hard to accept.”

Another volunteer at the Windhill centre added: “He was positive and tried to help others.

“He was also a very eco-friendly person who didn’t conform to everything.”

Cllr Martin Love (Green, Shipley) also attended to pay tribute to Luke’s memory.

He said: “It’s nice that so many have come today to remember him.

“He obviously had quite a few friends.

“And from what people have said, he was a very clever man by the sounds of it.”