A 17-YEAR-OLD boy who died trying to save a friend after they were caught by a rip current and swept out to sea was on an outing from a psychiatric unit, it emerged yesterday.

James Samuel Willis, originally from Stockton, but now based in the Gosforth area, and two 16-year-old girls were believed to have been using an inflatable dinghy when they got into difficulty off the coast of Whitby, on Wednesday.

They were on an adultsupervised trip from St Nicholas Hospital, in Gosforth, Newcastle, which is a medium secure psychiatric unit for youths.

It is run by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, where a spokesman said staff were “devastated”.

The unit cares for 14-to-17- year-olds who have either come into contact with police as a result of their mental health issues, or are classed as a risk to themselves or others.

A spokesman for Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, said: “We are all shocked and devastated by the news.

“We have spoken to his family to offer our sincerest condolences at this difficult time.

“We are fully co-operating with North Yorkshire Police to assist them in their investigation.”

The group got into difficulty near Whitby’s West Pier shortly before 1pm, on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old had managed to clamber up a ladder on the wall but went back to help one of his friends and was hit by a number of waves.

He was pulled from the water unconscious and was flown to Scarborough District Hospital where efforts to revive him failed.

The girls escaped with minor injuries and were discharged from hospital later yesterday.

An inquest into the teenager’s death is expected to be opened and adjourned today.

Brothers Joseph and Tom Ellis, from Selby, North Yorkshire, battled through the waves to try to rescue the teenagers.

The pair, 15 and 16 respectively, were playing in the sea when they heard screaming.

The brothers said people on the pier threw life belts to the group, but the youngsters could not reach them because of the choppy water.

James’s death has prompted repeated safety warnings to holidaymakers from emergency services.

Katie Gellatly, watch officer with Humber Coastguard, which helped to co-ordinate the rescue, said: “This incident reminds us all of the hidden dangers present when swimming at the beach.

“We would urge all members of the public visiting the coast to use lifeguarded beaches where possible, and take note of any signs or flags that show which areas are safe to bathe in.”

Police are continuing to investigate the incident and witnesses are asked to call 0845-60-60-24-7.