A family holiday has ended in tragedy after a dad drowned while trying to save his son who got into difficulties while swimming in the sea.

Tony Wilkinson was caught in a strong current and did not make it back to shore after going to the assistance of the boy, who survived.

The 49-year-old youth worker died on Thursday morning after the family, who live in Kent, had been walking on the beach in Calabash Bay on Jamaica's south coast.

Mr Wilkinson was the partner of award-winning Guardian journalist Decca Aitkenhead and had worked with charity Kids Company since 2009.

His family said in a statement: "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."