A POPULAR young student who got into difficulty while swimming in the city’s river died accidentally a coroner has ruled.

An inquest into the death of Tony Ballard, aged 17, of Jasmine Close, St Peter’s was held at Worcestershire Coroner’s Court in Stourport, today.

The teenager who studied at Worcester College of Technology drowned in the river Severn, after swimming in with three friends on the afternoon of Monday, June 29.

In a statement, Tony’s parents Duncan and Ellie Ballard said it was clear that everyone involved in the attempted rescue; friends, bystanders and the emergency services had done all they could to save their son’s life, after he got into difficulty.

“As we try to adjust to life without Tony,” they wrote, “we continue to be overawed by the love, prayers and compassion we have been given by the people and churches of Worcester.

“It is this support that gives us the strength to go on, and we offer you our heartfelt thanks.”

• See tomorrow's Worcester News for a full report.