A COUPLE were in shock last night after losing their 13-year-old son in a swimming pool tragedy - two years after their daughter died in identical circumstances.

Daniel Readshaw was the same age as his elder sister, Anne-Marie, when she drowned in a council-run swimming baths in 2001.

His parents, Iain and Marie Readshaw, of Ferryhill, County Durham, are still grieving the loss of Anne-Marie - while caring for another of their children, Catherine, ten, who is battling leukaemia.

She is in a Newcastle hospital after receiving a bone marrow transplant from sister, Nicole, 11.

Last night, their grandmother, Kath Conroy, said: "I keep thinking someone is going to wake me and tell me this is some horrible nightmare.

"When I was told what had happened, my first reaction was disbelief - as if it was some cruel, sick joke.

"Daniel and Anne-Marie both died at 13, both in swimming pools that were being supervised. Fate can be such a cruel thing.

"There are no words, no actions and nothing anyone can say or do which can offer us consolation now. We are just totally, utterly devastated."

Daniel was one of two dozen pupils taking part in a supervised swimming session shortly after midday at St John's Comprehensive School, in Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland.

Initial reports suggest he became "distressed" and had to be pulled from the water.

Staff and paramedics fought to save him but he was declared dead shortly after arrival at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Mrs Conroy said: "Daniel's presents are still sitting wrapped. We really don't know what to do with them.

"I fear for their mother now, I really don't know how she will cope with this.

"She has gone to hospital to be with Catherine. That poor little girl is fighting cancer and now she has to deal with the loss of her brother, so soon after losing her sister.

"I don't know how we will get through this but we are a strong family, we have good friends and a good parish and somehow we will find a way."

Mr and Mrs Readshaw also have a six-year-old daughter, Rachel.

Police and Health and Safety officials launched an investigation yesterday and a post-mortem examination is due to be carried out later today.

The other children who took part in the swimming session will be interviewed over the next few days.

News of the tragedy was broken to the school's 1,300 pupils at a special assembly.

Headteacher Gerard Moran said: "Our prayers and sympathy go out to Daniel's family at this tragic time. Daniel was a wonderful boy, popular and well thought of by his friends and fellow students.

"Words cannot convey the shock and disbelief we feel about what has happened to this family."

Neil Foster, Durham County Council's cabinet member for education, said: "This appalling tragedy has left the entire education community throughout County Durham reeling.

"The nature of Daniel's death, mirroring so closely as it does that of his sister two years ago, is quite beyond belief.

"While our thoughts are with his family, words of sympathy and regret seem totally inadequate."

Only days ago, Iain Readshaw, 37, spoke of how his sport-loving family had enjoyed swimming together.

He said: "I often used to take them swimming, it was something we enjoyed together and the kids were good at."

He was speaking outside Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court after a Health and Safety Executive prosecution of Sedgefield Borough Council, which followed an investigation into Anne-Marie's death at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.

The council, which runs the leisure centre pool, was fined a maximum of £20,000 with £7,242 costs after it admitted failing to meet health and safety guidelines, which have since been revised.

Magistrates heard that only one lifeguard was on duty that day when at least two people should have been watching the pool.

Sarah Cornbill, a close friend of Anne-Marie's since primary school, noticed her lying motionless on the bottom of the pool. She pulled her to the surface, then to the side of the pool, as friends called for help.

Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful and she was confirmed dead on arrival at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. An inquest into her death heard that an epileptic fit could not be ruled out as a likely explanation.

Even before yesterday's tragedy, the family's plight had already touched the hearts of people across south Durham who have rallied round to support them.

About a dozen schools take part in a cross country-challenge every year as a tribute to Anne-Marie, a promising runner. Catherine's struggle against leukaemia has also inspired fund-raising for cancer and hospital charities.

This summer, caring Daniel nominated Mrs Readshaw, 32, for a Mum of the Year award, at the Thinford Inn Brewers Fayre restaurant. Daniel clinched the local award with his moving entry which said: "My mum had five children.

"Anne-Marie died in September 2001, aged 13, my sister Catherine has leukaemia, she is nine, yet our mum still has time and love for us all."

Detective Sergeant Brian Wilkes, of Durham Police, said last night that investigations were at a very early stage.