A FAMILY has been hit by a second tragedy in four years with the death of a son found drowned in a canal.

Epileptic Tim Bywater is thought to have had a fit while cycling on a canal footpath and fallen into the water.

His mother Audrey, a retired Darlington teacher, died in November 1996, in a five-car pile-up on the town's A66 ring road.

Mr Bywater, 28, had been living in Hanwell, West London, for the past three years, but was born and brought up in Darlington.

Police said his body had been seen on Sunday afternoon in the Grand Union Canal, at Clitheroes Lock, Brentford, by a member of the public.

It was recovered, along with the mountain bike Mr Bywater, formerly of Carmel Road South, Darlington, had been riding.

Last night, his father Romney was coming to terms with the loss of his only son after the death of his wife Audrey.

She had been a teacher at Alderman Leach and Red Hall junior schools, and a member of Darlington Choral Society.

Mr Bywater said: "I am still trying to get over my wife's death and for this to happen is just terrible. Tim was a boy who was very well liked, and everybody says what a pleasant, caring lad he was.

"There was always a possibility that something like this could happen as his epilepsy was always there, but he kept fighting it and would not let it take over his life."

Mr Bywater had been on a manager's training scheme with high street chain John Lewis, and was due to start work at its Oxford Street store on Monday.

He had been a student at Darlington College of Technology, and completed a degree at Sheffield's Hallam University in building and surveying.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said a post mortem examination into his death had revealed the cause was drowning.

She said: "We expect an inquest will be opened and adjourned at Fulham Coroner's Court later this week. It is not being treated as a suspicious death."

Mr Bywater's funeral is expected to be at Elm Ridge Methodist Church, Darlington, next Tuesday or Wednesday