A MAN has died while trying to rescue his partner's six-year-old son from the sea.

Former Youth Clubs North Yorkshire chief executive Tony Christon was swept away by currents as he tried to rescue the boy at the beach in Jersey.

Mr Christon was with his partner, Hannah Butler, and her son Bryn. The family, orginally from Thirsk, had lived in Jersey's St Saviour area for 18 months.

The pair had been paddling just 3ft from the shore on Sunday evening off the island's Five Mile Road when Bryn was pulled under.

Mr Christon, 46, went in to rescue him but was swept out to sea. Surfers managed to pull the six-year-old ashore, but struggled to reach Mr Christon.

Rescuers managed to drag him out unconscious, but despite efforts to resuscitate him, he never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead at Jersey General Hospital. Bryn was unhurt.

Mr Christon's brother-in-law, Jerry Irving, who also lives in Jersey, said: "It was extremely brave what Tony did, as he died saving Bryn. It was a tragic accident as it's impossible to see where the undercurrents are and they were only two or three feet out."

Mr Christon had a long history of youth work and also had a commercial career, working for a time for clothing firm Austin Reed in Thirsk. From 1991 he became a driving force with Youth Clubs North Yorkshire, helping countless youngsters.

He spent more than ten years with the charity, based at Carlton Lodge Outdoor Centre, overseeing its growth, rising to become its chief executive.

Paul Chubb, chairman of the charity's board of trustees, said: "Personally I must say how devastating this shocking news of Tony's death, and the circumstances are. Tony was our greatly respected and well-liked chief executive.

"He will be greatly missed, personally and professionally. We all extend our deepest sympathy to Tony's loving family, and to his partner Hannah and her young son Bryn, whose life was undoubtedly saved by Tony's bravery."

It is the second devastating blow to afflict Ms Butler. Three years ago, her partner and Bryn's dad, Richard Metcalfe, died aged just 31 of a rare bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma. Mr Metcalfe spent ten years as manager of the outdoor centre.

An inquest will be held into Mr Christon's death.