The parents of a Ketton teenager who drowned last week are calling for urgent action to prevent another tragic death.

Nineteen-year-old Sonny Ferry fell in the River Ouse in York during a night out last Friday (April 12) and his body was recovered on Sunday, April 14.

He was staying in the city to work as a labourer.

Sonny's parents Kate and Steve Ferry believe their son slipped and fell in the river near Blue Bridge after leaving a nightclub and becoming lost.

They said: "We named our baby boy Sonny Joseph Ferry - he was just 19 when he died and he was beautiful in every way, inside and out.

"He was our sunshine."

In the wake of their tragedy, Kate and Stephen are calling for urgent changes to prevent more river deaths.

Kate has written an e-mail to York Central MP Rachael Maskell, who has called for a review of river safety after three recent fatalities in eight days.

And the couple are travelling to York today (Saturday) to meet with Ms Maskell.

In her e-mail Kate said it would be 'unbearable' for her and her family to learn of another 'avoidable death' without having done everything in their power to prevent it.

"We believe that the death of our child, and the deaths of so many more dearly loved and precious individuals in the rivers of York and indeed across the country is a national disgrace, and therefore demands immediate action.

"Hopefully together we can do our very best to prevent more tragedies," she adds.

Photo: Sonny Ferry courtesy of Steve Ferry