A FIREFIGHTER who led attempts to save a drowning teenager has revealed he remains haunted by the incident which claimed the young boy’s life.

Speaking during National Drowning Prevention Week this week, Simon Belcher says he still has a ‘sick feeling’ in the pit of his stomach each time he drives over Donnington Bridge - the scene of the tragedy.

On May 16, 2012, 15-year-old Mohammad Hussain jumped into the River Thames from the bridge.

Fire and rescue teams recovered his body two hours later but he was pronounced dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Now, more than six years later, Mr Belcher hopes by speaking out he can prevent others from suffering the same fate.

He said: “The death of Mohammad Hussain is the one that really sticks.

“I arrived to take charge of the scene with crews from Oxford already there frantically trying to find the lad.

“What you have got to remember is that the river there is very deep, very wide and the visibility is very poor because of the stirred-up silt.

“We also weren’t completely sure at the time exactly where he had gone in.

“There were lots of his friends about and that added to the emotional pressure on our crews.

“Eventually we found him with the help of our boats from Kidlington.”

Rescuers had hoped there was still a chance of resuscitating the Oxford Spires Academy pupil, despite hours having passed since he plunged into the river.

Mr Belcher said: “Once we found him one of the boat crew gave him 'first breaths' as they headed to the waiting ambulance on the bank and its defibrillator.

“But despite attempts by ambulance and medical staff we later found out he died at the John Radcliffe Hospital.”

A number of youngsters have lost their lives in the Oxfordshire’s rivers in recent years.

In 2016 student Ellis Downes, 16, drowned while swimming in the River Thames near Abingdon, despite friends risking their own lives to save him.

A year earlier, 13-year-old Aown Dogar died after falling into the River Thames at Weirs Lane, near Donnington Bridge.

And in 2006, 15-year-old Hassan Hussain drowned in the River Cherwell.

And with forecasts predicting temperatures to soar next week, the city’s rivers and streams may seem appealing to many youngsters looking to cool off.

However, Mr Belcher is urging caution and hopes to highlight the often hidden dangers of Oxford’s waterways, with drowning among the leading causes of accidental death in the UK.

He said: “I have a seven-year-old and I have drummed it in not to swim in rivers or any other unsupervised waters.

“And while I know each year we seem to say the same things about water safety and the risk of drowning, Mohammad’s death and the deaths of the 60 or so other young people each year who drown in the UK are heart-breaking for the families and those who try to save them.”

Around 60 youngsters are drowned each year with many hundreds more left with life-changing conditions after near-drowning incidents.

Earlier this month Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service re-issued safety advice after a number of people were pictured jumping into the River Cherwell.

Mr Belcher warned: “At unsupervised sites the water will be much colder than swimmers might expect and can often be very deep and contain hidden underwater snags.

“And especially never go into the water after drinking alcohol.

“Anyone who witnesses a swimmer in difficulty should dial 999, shout for help and try and throw something that floats to them.

"Do not enter the water yourself.”

Further advice can be found at http://www.365alive.co.uk/cms/content/open-water-and-riverbanks