SAFETY campaigners last night warned against the dangers of swimming after the death of a five-year-old boy who was swept out to sea.

Police said Lewis Ashley was plucked unconscious from the water in Northumberland but died later in hospital.

Attempts were made by the emergency services to revive him on the beach as shocked holidaymakers looked on.

Lewis, of Waverley Place, Newbiggen-by-the Sea, was playing on rocks with friends when he slipped and fell into the water at around 6pm on Wednesday.

Newbiggin Coastguard Mike Bradley said Lewis, who was found around 10 yards from the shore, was pulled unconscious from the water and the lifeboat doctor tried to resuscitate him on board.

The lifeboat was run on to the beach where further attempts to get him to breathe were made.

Mr Bradley said: ''It was a lovely fine day. When you live by the sea, the rocks, the water and the sand are your playground, but it is a very dangerous one.

''Everybody in Newbiggin is shocked, he was a popular little boy. ''It has affected everybody quite badly.''

A police inquiry has been launched, but Northumbria Police said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

Last night RoSPA issued water safety warnings to people tempted to take a cool dip both at home and abroad in rivers, swimming pools, lakes and the sea.

The school holidays start in many areas this weekend and the society is worried that there will be more tragedies.

More than 400 people die in accidental drownings in the UK each year while another 60 Britons drown abroad.

A 22-year-old man from Crook drowned whilst swimming in Greenfoot Quarry, Stanhope, County Durham, on July 7 just 11 days after a 12-year-old Ferryhill boy died in the River Wear at Sunderland Bridge, near Durham.