British boy, 13, is feared drowned after he’s swept out to sea in France

A BRITISH schoolboy is feared dead after he was swept out to sea at the end of a family holiday in France.

The 13-year-old was with two younger brothers in a ‘no swimming’ zone when he got into difficulty on the beach in the Channel port town of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

His siblings, aged eight and 10, rushed back to the shore to raise the alarm at around 6pm local time on Monday after they were unable to help him.

French rescue teams, including divers and a helicopter, launched a search that continued late into the night before resuming yesterday morning – but they have been unable to find the boy. His devastated mother, who had been looking after his twin siblings aged three with his father nearby, refused to leave the beach – keeping watch for her lost son.

The family, who were believed to be spending a night in the town on their way home after holidaying elsewhere in France, were later taken to hospital to be treated for shock.

A criminal inquiry has been launched into the incident which happened in a harbour where bathing is not allowed. ‘no swimming’ signs are prominently displayed.

It is common practice for French prosecutors to open criminal inquiries into disappearances, so that police can be employed in gathering facts. Detectives said they were looking for three adult witnesses to the tragedy who were seen calling for help.

According to French reports, the three children were playing near a lighthouse when they were taken by surprise by a strong current. nicolas Leclet of the fire and rescue department said a witness told his colleagues the two younger boys tried to help their sibling.

Experts said there was little hope of finding the boy alive. A search team spokesman said the water temperature meant the chances of survival were no more than three hours.

‘He could have been carried a fair distance away by the current,’ said the spokesman. ‘We now only expect to find his body.’