Leader missing after sea rescue

Mr Foxcroft was helping teenagers in the water when he was swept away

A British schools expedition leader is missing presumed drowned off the South African coast after trying to help teenagers in difficulty.

Sean Foxcroft, 24, from Manchester, was dragged out to sea after wading into the water on the beach at St Lucia, north of Durban, on Sunday.

The teenagers had been cooling off in the surf after a game of rugby but were dragged out by strong undercurrents.

A major sea, air and land search failed to uncover any sign of him.

Mr Foxcroft was leading a group of 15 students aged between 16 and 18 on a four-week trip with the company World Challenge.

'Very capable'

He was supervising the teenagers as they played rugby with another World Challenge group on the beach on Sunday.

Mr Foxcroft was one of two expedition leaders who went into the water to help them, but was overwhelmed by the waves and carried out to sea.

A spokesman for South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute said: "Shore patrols conducted during the night have revealed no signs of the missing man, who is presumed to have drowned."

In a statement, World Challenge said the rescue mission was still ongoing. No-one else was hurt in the incident.

Nigel Miller, World Challenge's managing director, said: "Our thoughts are with Sean's family and his friends and we will continue to provide them with whatever support they need.

"We are currently working with the authorities in South Africa, assisting with the search for Sean and ensuring the welfare of the students involved in this incident."

Students counselled

The students had spent more than three weeks trekking in South Africa and were on the "rest and relaxation" wind-down phase of their trip.

South African rescue services searched the area until dark yesterday and continue to search today Foreign Office spokeswoman

They are now receiving counselling after the ordeal, World Challenge said, ahead of their return to the UK on Wednesday.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it had contacted Mr Foxcroft's family about the tragedy.

A spokeswoman said: "South African rescue services searched the area until dark yesterday and continue to search today.

"We are in contact with the family and the National Sea Rescue Institute, who are keeping us informed of any developments."

Dan Mazur said he worked with Mr Foxcroft for the company Himalayan Expeditions and took a group of 32 people up Mount Ama Dablam, near Mount Everest, with him in October last year.

Mr Mazur said Mr Foxcroft was "very capable, very responsible and thoughtful".

"He was a very caring, very strong person. You would not have known he was 24.

"I have really spent some time with him. It's a tragedy."