Teenager's desperate bid to save his tragic dad from drowning during Tenerife holiday

A teenager was praised by a coroner yesterday after he tried to save his dad from while swimming on holiday.

When Stephen Howd, 57, got into difficulty in the water off the coast of Buenavista del Norte in , brave William, then aged just 16, jumped into the choppy sea to try to rescue his father. Stephen, though, struck his head on rocks, a said yesterday.

Nevertheless, William managed to bring his dad almost all the way back to shore in a valiant attempt to save Stephen, who was a barrister. Recording a conclusion of misadventure, coroner Jason Pegg commended William's bravery after hearing Stephen was "just incredibly unlucky that day".

Winchester Coroner's Court was told Stephen, a "strong swimmer", often went to Punta de Teno, a rocky outcrop to jump into the sea as he bought a holiday home in the area in 2006. However, sea conditions deteriorated on April 21, 2023, and father-of-three Stephen got into difficulty.

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The inquest heard neither Stephen nor William, both from Farnham, Surrey, were able to swim back to the jump off point which was then submerged after they leapt into the water.

Other people on the shore made a makeshift rope from clothing which William, who is now 18, managed to grab hold of and was pulled back ashore. Mr Pegg added: "Tragically his father was not able to do so and it appears whilst trying to do so, the force of the water threw Stephen against the rocks causing Stephen to sustain a head injury.

"From the shore, William saw his father slowing down and swimming but not getting any closer to where he wanted to be. William then jumped back into the sea and swam out to his father. When William reached his father he described his father as being slumped over and face down in the water."

It is understood Stephen was already dead when William attempted to swim back to the rocks with him. Rescuers eventually arrived and were able to retrieve Stephen after his body was swept out to sea again. The man was then pronounced dead at the scene.

The hearing was told Stephen attended Winchester College as a young man and went on to study physics at Oxford University, before obtaining the prestigious Queen Mother's Scholarship - given to outstanding candidates - to study law at the university.

He was appointed a judge shortly before he died, and his daughter told the inquest that he had been looking forward to the new professional challenge.

The inquest comes after . The tot, three, was found dead in a Tsilivi swimming pool on Sunday afternoon, with ambulances called to the Greek island of Zakynthos where a Brit family was staying.