A BOY of 12 drowned yesterday after getting into difficulty while swimming in a North-East river with friends.

The boy was playing in the River Browney, a tributary of the River Wear near Sunderland Bridge, between Durham and Croxdale at lunchtime.

A spokesman for Durham Police said his friends - two teenage girls and an 11-year-old boy - raised the alarm and a passer-by pulled him from the water.

Paramedics began resuscitation until a police helicopter arrived. PC Chris Todd and PC Dave Inskip, trained first-aiders, continued efforts to revive the boy before flying him to the nearby force headquarters at Aykley Heads, Durham. A waiting ambulance then took the boy to the nearby University Hospital of North Durham, where he was declared dead.

Police said last night that his immediate family had been informed, but as other relatives had not learned of the tragedy, his identity would not be made public until today.

He was said, however, to be from County Durham.

Inspector Mick Henson, of Durham City Police, said last night: "All the indications are that this was a tragic accident, but obviously there will have to be an inquest in due course.

"Our sympathies are very much with this lad's family.

"Unfortunately, it does illustrate the potential dangers for swimmers, even in what appears to be clear waters on a bright sunny day."

A police spokesman said the boy's friends could not explain how he appeared to have got into difficulties.

"They were obviously very shocked at what happened, but they were able to raise the alarm.

"It appears the paramedic crew and the police helicopter were all quickly on the scene, but unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the boy sadly died."

The spot where the tragedy took place is said to be a quiet stretch of river, very popular with anglers in the area.