A Duke of Edinburgh Award examiner for the North-East died after he was swept out to sea while paddling with his partner's six-year-old son.

Tony Christon, who was the managing director of an outdoor activity centre based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, drowned off the coast of Jersey on Sunday.

It is thought the boy, called Bryn, was knocked over by a large wave and as Mr Christon, 46, tried to reach him, the pair were sucked out by powerful undercurrents.

The youngster was rescued by a surfer, who brought him to shore on his board. He was rushed to hospital, where he has made a full recovery.

Efforts to revive Mr Christon, who was originally from Thirsk, however, were in vain. He was pronounced dead by doctors at the hospital.

Surfers and other swimmers risked their own lives to save the pair when they noticed they were in trouble.

Dag Veiby was with friends just yards from where Mr Christon, his partner Hannah, and Bryn had been sitting on St Ouen's beach.

"I went for a swim in the water and noticed the undercurrent was quite strong as I was coming out," he said.

He noticed the pair paddling at the water's edge as he came out of the sea.

Minutes later he realised something had happened as he heard screams.

Mr Veiby put his flippers, mask and snorkel on and swam out in the current to try and save the pair.

He said: "Two guys on surfboards came across and one managed to get hold of the boy. The other guy on the board reached the man before me."

Between them, Mr Veiby and the surfer held Mr Christon's head out of the water and tried to revive him by breathing into his mouth.

Moments later, beach lifeguards, who were stationed further down the beach, arrived in an inflatable boat and took them to shore.

More efforts were made to revive Mr Christon before the ambulance arrived.

A statement released by the victim's relatives read: "The family of Anthony Robert Christon would publicly like to thank, in particular, the surfers and swimmers who came to his and Bryn's rescue.

"We would also like to thank the lifeguards, ambulance crew, hospital staff and police for all their efforts."

The family hope to arrange a memorial service to be held in a few weeks at St Mary's Church, in Thirsk.

Mr Christon was still actively involved in the Carlton Lodge Activity Centre, despite having moved to Jersey over a year ago.

He made the journey to North Yorkshire twice a month.

Back in 1991, he led the centre to win a prestigious award, which was presented by the late Queen Mother at St James' Palace.