BARFORD UPDATE: Man and child confirmed dead in River Avon tragedy

A rescue operation was sparked at 5.35pm when the man and three children went into the water after their small rowing boat turned over.

Two of the children were rescued from the river by a local resident and police officer shortly after.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said one of the children had suffered a cardiac arrest and was given CPR at the scene by the resident and policeman.

Following an extensive operation involving Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue, the ambulance service and Severn Area Rescue, the body of third child was recovered from the water shortly before 8.30pm.

The man's body was recovered just after 10pm. Both were declared dead at the scene.

The two children recovered from the water were taken to Warwick Hospital. The child given CPR was described as being in a serious but stable condition and has been transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital. The other was still at Warwick Hospital and said to be "conscious but poorly".

Reports yesterday at the scene say the four are from the same family but police will not confirm names until formal identification has been carried out.

The river was in full flow at the time of the tragedy and rescue efforts were hampered by the fast-moving water.

A police spokesman said: "All the emergency services involved in the operation have expressed their thanks to the people of Barford for their help and support during what has been an extremely difficult and tragic incident and their thoughts are with the bereaved."