A PROUD grandmother has told how her 11-year-old grandson rescued two drowning youths in a beauty spot river tragedy.

Christopher Jones sprang into action on the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey, Skipton.

His grandmother, Mrs Hilary McAllister, of Melville Drive, Blackburn, said Christopher was relaxing on an airbed when several youths from Bradford jumped into the river fully clothed.

One of them, 19-year-old Janghir Shaffi, drowned after he and his younger brother Imran and a third boy got into difficulties.

Mrs McAllister said: "Christopher paddled over with the airbed and grabbed one of them and pulled him onto it.

"He then paddled to the side and came back and did the same with another one."

She added: "Christopher is only 11 and I think to do something like that is very brave because he could have drowned himself.

"I would not say he is a really good swim- mer.

"He is very modest and does not want to talk about it but I'm very proud of him."

After the tragedy, police praised Christopher, of Yarrow Road, Chorley, who is a first year pupil at St Michael's secondary school, Chorley.

Inspector Peter Lambert, of Skipton police, said: "One witness saw this boy paddling in the river. He saw Imran was in trouble and went out and got him with the raft.

"The lad clung on to it and he paddled to the shore.

"He was very brave and could have saved the boy's life."

Imran and the third boy were in such a state of shock after the incident that they had to be rescued by firemen in a boat.

The dead boy's body was later recovered by police divers.

A police spokesman added that Chris- topher's bravery would probably be brought to the attention of the Chief Constable after the inquest and he could well be in line for an award.

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