Schoolboy dies in pool tragedy

The Playa de Las Americas resort is popular with British tourists

A Wearside schoolboy has died in a swimming pool tragedy hours after arriving at a Spanish holiday resort.

Seven-year-old Benjamin Waters from Penshaw, near Sunderland, had just arrived with his family in Tenerife, at the resort of Playa de Las Americas, when the accident happened.

It is believed he had gone swimming with his 11-year-old brother Jordan soon after arriving on Monday.

His body was found by another holidaymaker, but attempts to revive him failed.

His parents have been flown home by holiday firm, Airtours and arrangements are being made to bring their son's body home.

'Bright boy'

Joy Lynch, head teacher of Farringdon Primary School, where Ben was a pupil, said: "Everyone here is completely devastated at the news.

"He was a lively boy.

"We heard about the tragedy from Ben's aunt.

"We won't be telling the other pupils until after the holidays.

"Ben was a bright, popular boy, full of fun and it was a pleasure teaching him because he had such a good sense of humour."

Mrs Lynch said Ben had been given permission to leave school a week early for the family trip.

A spokesman for Airtours' parent company MyTravel said it had offered to arrange counselling for the family.

He said: "We have already assisted the family by returning them home to the UK, and will continue to offer any support and access to counsellors for as long as they wish."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national died shortly after arriving in Tenerife and the police are not treating it as suspicious."