A DISTRAUGHT father spoke yesterday of his disbelief after his son drowned at a favourite seaside spot.

Stephen Scott, 46, said the family, along with his son's girlfriend, were struggling to come to terms with 20-year-old Kevin's death.

The car valet had been out walking with a friend, a friend's girlfriend and her sister at South Gare, Redcar, on Sunday afternoon when the accident happened

Gale force winds whipped up a freak wave, which swept Kevin into the icy North Sea.

Despite his friend's efforts to save him, he was unable to swim against the strong current. The pair were finally washed up on the shoreline, but paramedics, who had been called by a passer-by, were unable to revive Kevin. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

His steel worker father, of Fabian Road, Eston, Teesside, said: "The whole family is in shock and I don't think Kevin's death has quite sunk in yet - it's devastating. He was a good lad and would do anything for anyone."

Last night, Kevin's mother Mary, brother Stephen, 23, and 22-year-old sister Joanne were too upset to comment.

Mr Scott revealed that Kevin's 17-year-old girlfriend, Andrea Bellis, had been planning a surprise Valentine's Day dinner to mark the couple's third year together.

He said: "Andrea had arranged a romantic meal at a hotel. She is distraught, but with the help of family and friends we hope to pull through."

Peter Kirkham, of the Tyne Tees Coastguard, said: "This time of year the temperature of water is seven to eight degrees celcius and survival time is measured in minutes rather than hours.