A DISTRAUGHT mother is trying to come to terms with the death of her eight-year-old son who drowned in a North Yorkshire swimming pool.

Police have not yet officially named the boy, but he is understood to be Kaimen Ward.

The youngster had gone with two friends and three adults to Hambleton Leisure Centre in Northallerton, North Yorkshire on Wednesday afternoon when the tragedy happened.

He was rushed to the town's Friarage Hospital after being pulled from the water at around 4.25pm, but was pronounced dead after efforts to revive him failed.

His mother Caroline Ward, 41, who lives in the town, was not at the swimming pool with her son and was told by police of the death.

Caroline wept as she paid tribute to her "perfect" son who celebrated his eighth birthday exactly a week before he died.

The terraced home she shared with Kaimen and his twin sister still had birthday cards on display for the twins.

Caroline, who also has a 19-year-old son and is separated from Kaimen's father, asked how her sons death was able to go unnoticed when he drowned at a council swimming pool.

However, council chiefs have claimed there were more lifeguards on duty than best practice as the tragedy happened while a public swimming session was ending and a lesson was beginning, meaning several staff were on poolside at the time.

Caroline, 41, said: "What I want to know is where the hell were the lifeguards?

"It is peak season at the swimming pool so how did he go unsupervised?"

One eyewitness who was at the swimming pool at the time of the tragedy, who did not wish to be named, described the moment Kaimen was pulled out the water.

She said: "It was around the waterfall area of the pool he was pulled from.

"A female lifeguard jumped in and pulled him out.

"They worked on him at the side of the pool for about 15 minutes before the ambulance came.

"There had been three lifeguards standing around the taking to each other just before he was pulled out."

The child's mother added: "He had just turned eight last Wednesday.

"He was such a lovely boy.

"His sister doesn't know why he hasn't come home.

"I want answers as to how this was allowed to happen?

"He was a lovely little chap - he loved his gadgets.

"He was perfect in my eyes. This is just not happening.

"The police have told me it is under investigation. I was told he was under the water for 20 minutes.

"He was so full of life.

"Last night when the police came they told me he was critical - I didn't realise he was dead until I got to the hospital.

"I knew when they took me into a room he was gone."

Phillip Morton, deputy chief executive for Hambleton District Council, said: "It was an afternoon public swimming session and it was actually about to change to swimming lessons.

"In addition to having three lifeguards at the side of the pool there was an additional number of swimming instructors.

"We had more people than even best practice would suggest at the side of the pool at the time.

"The council is quite sombre today and I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family.

"The police will continue their investigations today. Until they are completed, we will not know exactly what happened."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Inquiries to determine the full circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing."

The leisure centre will remain closed tomorrow.