“HE THOUGHT he was Superman, thought he could conquer the world”.

Those were the words of the grieving father of an 18-year-old soldier who died in the River Ouse in York.

Steve Pearson spoke out about the loss of his son Tyler, at the launch of a series of new measures to improve safety on York’s river banks.

Tyler had been in York for only two weeks, to complete his basic Army training, when he drowned in the Ouse.

Mr Pearson and Jackie Roberts - whose 20-year-old daughter Megan died after falling into the Ouse in January - told their tragic stories.

They and Rachel Peatfield - whose 22-year-old boyfriend Ben Clarkson died in the River Foss after a night out in March - have taken part in short videos (below) by York filmmaker Dave Thorpe in which they talk about their heartache, in the hope of preventing further tragedies.

They spoke as North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, deputy City of York Council leader Tracey Simpson- Laing and North Yorkshire Police Superintendent Phil Cain announced work that had been done since the River Safety Summit in March, and work which will go on in coming weeks and months.

Recommendations by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents will start to be implemented within weeks, and more will be done with landlords and licensees to prevent the sale of alcohol to people already under the influence.

Mr Pearson said: “York was Tyler’s first posting after basic training. He loved life, always had a big smile on his face, big, loud laugh. He thought he was Superman, thought he could conquer the world.

“I think this is a step in the right direction. I’m really pleased the council and police have got together to try and do something different. I’m really happy with the fact that I will never know if the videos make a difference. People watch it on YouTube and we will never know if they have remembered it and decided against jumping in the river at 2am.”

Jackie said: “Every time it happens, it’s always going to remind us of what’s happened to our children. I know how it feels and I don’t want anyone else to feel like this.”

Mrs Mulligan said: “One of the key things we need to consider is the role of alcohol in the deaths we have seen in the city centre and more widely around the night time economy in York.

“There is no doubt both from the accidents we have seen recently and looking at the wider issues in the city centre that alcohol does play a role in terms of both crime, antisocial behaviour and vulnerability.”

Coun Simpson-Laing said the council was making changes to the way people enjoy York on an evening and ROSPA recommendations would also be implemented, including:

• All 35 life rings on the Ouse and 14 on the Foss will be replaced with modern models with floating lines by the end of November 2014

• Updated instructions for use and location of the equipment and raising the alarm is being organised

• New river safety notices and an updated programme of inspections

• Refreshed post and chain fencing at sections of the rivers’ edge

• Updated edge protection at Wellington Row, Blue Bridge area and Queens Staith by the end of this year

• Updated fencing near Navigation Road by late November

• A survey on refreshing existing grab rails and installing new ones will start next month, with work to begin in Spring 2015 when river levels settle

• The council is consulting with emergency services on the use of limited or permanent fixed emergency-only lighting for sections near and under Ouse Bridge.

Coun Simpson-Laing said: “The city is going to find the money as a priority. It is one of those things where all members of the council agree that this is important. We will be bringing recommendations forward to council then to public meeting as it will be a change to capital budget for the financial year.”