A FAMILY'S day trip to the seaside turned to tragedy when a ten-year-old boy drowned near South Pier, Blackpool.

Jonathan Pendlebury (pictured), of Atherton near Manchester, was playing on the beach when he and his nine-year-old sister Jennifer chased a ball into the sea on Tuesday afternoon (July 27).

Neither could swim and panicked as waves swept over them - but a 14-year-old boy from Selkirk in Scotland saw what was happening and turned hero of the hour when he managed to pull the girl to safety, thinking her brother had managed to get out on his own.

Jonathan, however, had disappeared. His mother and her partner raised the alarm and searched frantically but 20 minutes later a male swimmer came screaming out of the sea carrying his limp body.

Beach patrol officers and paramedics desperately tried to revive him while shocked holidaymakers looked on, but Jonathan was pronounced dead at Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 4pm. His devastated mother, Denise Tinsley, officially identified his body. Denise, 29, and her partner John Stall have nine children between them and they were all playing together when the tragedy happened.

Speaking at home she said: "The children asked if they could paddle - we thought it would be all right. The next minute Jennifer came running out of the sea crying. She said Jonathan was drowning. We ran for the lifeguard and told him Jonathan was in trouble."

She never saw him alive again. None of the family could swim but her partner said they had thought it was shallow enough to be safe. They had seen no warning signs and warned other parents to be on their guard.

Inspector Allan Wyllie said: "This was a tragic accident. The children were supervised, their parents were nearby and they were told to play near the water's edge.

"We'd like to appeal for anyone who saw what happened to get in touch on (01253) 293933."

Sgt Mark Hughes warned of the dangers of seaside bathing. "Parents should always be aware of where their children are and children, if they want to go in the sea, should make sure they can swim and that there's some adult supervision with them.

"Even though it looks calm there are underlying currents that can be dangerous for people of all ages."

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