THE quick thinking of a surfer saved a six-year-old boy from drowning alongside his mother's partner, an inquest was told.

Tony Christon, 46, died on June 19 after being swept out to sea by strong currents at St Ouen's Bay, in Jersey.

Mr Christon, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had been paddling with his partner's son Bryn, when the youngster was knocked over by a wave.

He tried to reach the boy but both were overpowered by the currents until surfer Matthew Webster dragged Bryn from the water.

At the inquest into Mr Christon's death, Deputy Viscount, Peter de Gruchy praised Mr Webster, but also warned that those who did not fully understand the dangers of the sea should heed the warning signs. He said even people who had experience with watersports should familiarise themselves with local conditions.

"It is common knowledge that there are dangerous currents in St Ouen's Bay," he said.

Turning to Bryn's mother, Hannah Butler, and members of Mr Christon's family, Mr de Gruchy said he had thought hard about a suitable analogy.

He said that he had been brought up in Jersey and learned the "inherent dangers" of the sea from a young age, but he would not venture out on to the North York Moors without the proper equipment and training.

The hearing found that no one was likely to know how the pair came to be swept out by a strong rip current.

Surfers Dag Veiby and Michael Charlton told the inquest they had noticed how strong the current was that day.

Mr Christon lived in St Saviour and moved to Jersey a year before his death. He remained the managing director of the Carlton Lodge Activity Centre, an outdoor activity centre near Thirsk, and travelled to North Yorkshire twice a month.