TWO boys died in separate swimming incidents yesterday on a day of tragedy in the region.

A 17-year-old from Tyneside died after he was swept out to sea off Whitby, North Yorkshire.

The holidaymaker was one of three youngsters caught in a rip current near the resort’s West Cliff beach.

And North Yorkshire Police were last night investigating the death of an eight-year-old boy at Hambleton Leisure Centre, in Northallerton.

The boy, who lived locally, was taken to the town’s Friarage Hospital after getting into difficulty while swimming, at about 4pm.

He was pronounced dead after efforts to revive him failed.

The swimming pool had been packed with families at the time. It was cleared in the aftermath of the incident, and parents taking their children for swimming lessons were turned away by staff.

One woman said: “It was clear that something very serious had happened. The staff looked very upset and shaken.”

Councillor Peter Wilkinson, Hambleton District Council’s cabinet member for health, said last night: “It is a tragedy and our condolences go out to the family.

“Losing an eight-year-old like this must be horrendous.

“Police are investigating and council staff are co-operating, and tomorrow we will have an internal investigation into what happened.

“Police were interviewing staff when I left at 8pm.”

Coun Wilkinson believed the boy drowned in the centre’s 25m pool.

He said: “I would say our safety record is excellent and we have never had any issues to my knowledge.

“I am newly-appointed to the cabinet (but) I believe we have never had a tragedy like this before, and I hope we never have another one.”

A police spokesman said the incident was reported at 4.25pm.

“Inquiries to determine the full circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing,” he said.

Police are expected to reveal more details about the incident this morning. Neither victim has been identified.

Emergency services received dozens of 999 calls from members of the public who saw the Whitby drama unfold.

The youth was airlifted to Scarborough District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two girls, aged 16 and 17, were taken to hospital by helicopter, suffering from hypothermia, water ingestion and shock.

It is understood the teenagers were using an inflatable dinghy when they got into difficulty.

An RAF Sea King helicopter, which had been on training manoeuvres in the area, was diverted to the incident, joined by RNLI lifeguards who were patrolling the beach.

Lifeguard Josh Jones drove along the beach on a quad bike and entered the water, securing one of the girls with a rescue tube, before going further out to help the boy, who was unconscious. Mr Jones kept him afloat until the lifeboat crew reached them.

Lifeboat volunteer Hugh Ramsden administered emergency first aid to the casualty in the lifeboat.

Once back at the lifeboat station, crew members continued CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until the helicopter arrived.

Mr Ramsden said: “Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, we were not able to help him. On behalf of everyone at the RNLI, I’d like to send our condolences to his friends and family at this very sad time.”

It is thought the youth had managed to pull himself to safety using a ladder on the pier wall, but had returned to the water to help his companion.

Witness Michelle Fish said about 150 people were cleared from the beach to allow the helicopter to land.

Miss Fish, a schoolteacher from Washington, Wearside, was enjoying a day out in the town with friends.

She said: “We were shopping when we heard the helicopter go overhead and then the police and coastguard vehicles whizzed past.

“The helicopter landed on the beach and we saw the two young girls being treated.”

She added: “It did not look like swimming weather.

“Although it was fine, it was clear rather than bright sunshine and the sea looked very choppy.”

Yesterday’s tragedy was the third incident in the area involving an inflatable in the past week.

On Saturday, a swimmer was rescued off Cayton Bay, near Scarborough, while surfers went to the rescue of three youngsters from Teesside, who had got into difficulty off Sandsend, near Whitby, last Thursday.

Emergency services have made several safety warnings about the use of inflatables off the region’s coastline.

Humber Coastguard watch manager Mike Puplett said: “This was a tragic incident in which a young life was lost.

“We would warn people to be aware of the dangers of the sea and take every precaution necessary when enjoying the region’s beautiful coastline.”

■ North Yorkshire Police are investigating both of yesterday’s tragedies. Anyone with information is asked to call 0845-60-60-24-7.