A summer dip in the River Thames that lead to the death of a man at Gravesend was a tragic accident, a coroner has ruled.

Nathan Lane, 28, got into difficulties after going to help two girls who had fallen into the water in a "prank", an inquest heard.

Mr Lane, of Empress Road, Gravesend, was swept away on July 14 before his body was found in the river near West Street three days later.

Coroner Roger Hatch said he visited Mr Lane's brother Warren, of Phoenix Place, Dartford, who was able to identify the body as Nathan's from distinctive tattoos.

Speaking at the inquest into his death, Carl Payne spoke of how he was at Gordon Promenade and could see two young girls, Maria and Katherine, on the causeway - along with Nathan Lane and his girlfriend Joyce.

Mr Payne said in his statement that he could see a girl's arm waving from the water and he ran to the causeway before diving in to rescue Katherine.

Despite the extremely strong current - Mr Payne, who has a lifeguard qualification - pulled the girl onto his back, but was unable to swim as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

At this point, Kieran Wellard and Lewis Rossiter swam out and took hold of the girl before Carl swam to the Port of London Authority building.

Climbing up, he grabbed a life ring and threw it out, pulling them to safety.

St John's school pupil Jake Cornish was also in the water helping the rescue and got onto the jetty when he said Nathan had been pulled under the water and they had been unable to pull him out.

Also giving evidence was DS Sam Hudson-Gool, who said Katherine had been pushed into the water by Mr Lane "for a prank" and when her friend Maria went to help her, she too fell in. Mr Lane then went into the water to help, he said.

When asked by Mr Lane's brother Warren where this information came from, DS Hudson-Gool said there was no one that saw him push the girl in nor another suggestion that he "pushed her head under the water to keep himself afloat".

DS Hudson-Gool said he swallowed "a lot of water before losing consciousness".

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Hatch said: "This was a tragic accident and I express my sympathies to the family."

Speaking afterwards, Warren Lane said: "I've never heard this new evidence before. I don't know what to say. I don't know what happened - I wasn't there, but I can't see my brother ever doing that."