THE fiancee of a man who drowned while swimming in a reservoir has spoken of the traumatic day she lost her husband-to-be.

Louise Lane told how a family day out turned to tragedy when Stephen Forrest got into difficulties in the water on Saturday.

The body of the 23-year-old father of three, of Hemlington, Middlesbrough was recovered on Tuesday from Cod Beck Reservoir, near Osmotherley.

His 14-year-old sister, Hazel Forrest, also struggled in the cold water, but managed to reach safety.

Miss Lane, 24, said there should be more warning signs at the popular destination and urged action to prevent further tragedies.

She told how the couple were having a picnic with Mr Forrest's sister, Hazel, and two of his children.

Recounting the final moments she spent with him, Miss Lane said: "He thought they could get from one side to another without having to swim at all. But at one point he decided he had to swim. His sister was next to him, about a metre away.

"He shouted 'help' and I saw him go down.

"Hazel was struggling at the same time. She couldn't have helped him. It happened so fast. Nobody realised what was happening. People were shouting. It was all surreal."

Following a search by rescuers, which included three helicopters, Mr Forrest's body was discovered on Tuesday.

His parents, Barry and Sharon, Louise and his two brothers and sisters, are being comforted by family and friends.

Miss Lane said she would campaign to have more signs erected on the side of the reservoir where the family was enjoying their picnic.

She said: "If they had known of the dangers they would not have tried to do what they did."

Last August, Darren Dey, 17, from Yarm, near Stockton, died in the same reservoir and the lack of signs was highlighted after that tragedy.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Water said: "This is a terribly sad incident that was totally unnecessary and avoidable.

"We have a number of signs both at major entrances to the site and where people attempt to enter the water. Our signage is constantly reviewed."