London youth worker drowns rescuing son in Jamaica

A London youth worker has drowned after swimming out to sea to rescue one of his sons while on a family holiday in Jamaica.

Tony Wilkinson, 49, was caught in a strong current and did not make it back to the shore after going to the assistance of the boy, who survived.

The tragic incident happened 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.

Kids Company, founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh in 1996, provides support to vulnerable inner-city children.

Employed there as an outreach worker, Mr Wilkinson helped young people in and around London, many of whom are affiliated with gangs.

Previously he had run a home conversion business and founded and managed an east London organic deli.

He joined Kids Company while studying psychology and criminology at the University of Westminster.

Ms Aitkenhead won an Interviewer of the Year gong at the 2009 British Press Awards and has contributed to radio and television programmes.

In 2000, she wrote about her experiences living in a Jamaican fishing village for a year with a previous husband.