A British youth worker drowned while rescuing his young son who got pulled out to sea on a family holiday in Jamaica.

Tony Wilkinson, 49, was caught in a strong current after swimming to help the boy in Calabash Bay.

The incident happened on Thursday after the family, who live in Kent, had been walking on the beach.

Mr Wilkinson was the partner of award-winning Guardian journalist Decca Aitkenhead.

He had worked with charity Kids Company since 2009.

'Current too strong'

In a statement, his family said: "Tony Wilkinson and his partner Decca Aitkenhead were on holiday in a village on the south coast of Jamaica with their two sons, aged three and four.

"At 8.30 on Thursday morning one of their sons was paddling in the waves and got pulled out to sea. Tony swam out and rescued him.

"Decca swam out and brought their son to shore but the current was too strong for Tony to swim back, and despite the efforts of local fishermen who swam out to help, he drowned before they could get him back to shore."

Kids Company provides support to vulnerable inner-city children in London.

Mr Wilkinson, an outreach worker, helped young people in and around London, many of whom are affiliated with gangs.

Previously he had run a home conversion business and founded and managed an east London organic deli.