The father who had to pick which of his twins to save when their canoe capsized

A grieving father told yesterday how he was forced to make a 'life and death' decision over which of his children to save when a family canoe trip turned to tragedy.

TV presenter Ian Clayton's daughter Billie, nine, died after their canoe capsized, throwing them into fast-flowing water, along with Billie's twin brother Edward.

Yesterday Mr Clayton, 48, spoke through tears as he told how he had been told by his son to save Billie first. He desperately tried to lift the canoe clear but couldn't see Billie and was only able to grab Edward.

Victim: Billie Clayton, nine, who died in the tragic canoeing accident

Buoyed by their lifejackets, Mr Clayton and his son were carried away by the strong current of the River Wye in Powys, Wales.

Yesterday he told an inquest into Billie's death: 'When I got to Edward up the river that day, he said, "Save my sister first." It's hard to understand what was going through that little lad's mind for him to say that.'

Mr Clayton, who presents My Yorkshire for ITV's local output, went on to explain the agonising decision he was forced to make.

He said: 'It was a challenge for me. What twin to go for?

'Sometimes I dream that I saved Billie instead. I will never know if I made the right decision.

'Should I go for the one I can see and hope that later I can find the one I can't see? In the end I went for the one I could see.'

He then told how he got his son, who was clinging on to an overhanging branch, out of the water, saying: 'It looked like he was bodysurfing because of the power of the water. I pulled him up and he nearly strangled me because he was holding on so tight.

TV presenter Ian Clayton was forced to make a life and death choice between his children

'I kept saying, "You are going to be OK", but he kept saying, "You are not going to let me die, are you Daddy?"

The pair were met by an ambulance crew when they reached the river bank, as Mr Clayton had earlier called the canoe company and told them to dial for help.

However, a 999 operator warned him not to risk his life by jumping back in to save Billie.

'I was frightened to jump back in there,' he said. 'I will admit it. I'm not sure if I would have if that woman hadn't told me not to.' He added: 'The next time I saw ( Billie) was in the operating theatre in the hospital.

'It is such a tragedy and people say that tragedy gets better with time. But it doesn't. The pain is still the same today, two years and two months after.'

Coroner Peter Maddox stated that there was 'serious cause for concern' about the way canoes were rented to novices in the UK.

He said: 'There seems to be a potentially large hole in which the very inexperienced may fall.'

The trio, who were on holiday from their home in Featherstone, Yorkshire, had left the children's mother, Heather Parkinson, behind in nearby Hay-on-Wye on April 12 2006.

But they took a wrong turn and, as they tried to turn the canoe, a surge of water flipped it over.

Holding up a photo of his daughter yesterday, Mr Clayton said: 'I want people to remember who we are talking about. This is Billie when she was eight and it is her last school photograph.

'Most people who look at it say, "What a beautiful girl." She was a delight - an absolute delight.'

The hearing, which is expected to last three days, continues.