A boy of 11 has died after apparently drowning during a school swimming lesson at Thame Leisure Centre.

Nathan Matthews was pronounced dead yesterday morning (July 11) at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, after attempts to resuscitate him failed.

His school -- Stokenchurch Primary -- had only been using the Thame Town Council-owned leisure centre as a temporary measure while their pool was refurbished.

It is not yet clear how Nathan died, but he was removed from the pool by a lifeguard who attempted to resuscitate him.

Specialist paediatric paramedics arrived within four minutes of an emergency call and also tried also to save him.

The incident is being treated as a suspected drowning.

Last night Nathan's mother, Penny, 34, who was at home comforting Nathan's five brothers and sisters in Water End, Stokenchurch, said: "He was a fit young boy.

"He had no health problems -- he was just a fun-loving 11-year-old kid. I miss him so much and feel sick.

"The school rang me and said there had been an incident at the leisure centre -- I thought he had hurt his leg or something."

Nathan was one of 88 Year Six pupils who were completing a series of swimming lessons at the pool, which was only officially opened last year.

Andrew White, the headteacher of Stokenchurch Primary School, said: "This is a tragedy and our deepest sympathies are with the boy's family and friends at this time.

"It's too early to tell how or why this happened and we can only hope that swift investigation will shed more light."

A post mortem is due to be held tomorrow (July 14) and an inquest will be opened and adjourned before the end of the week.

Nathan's father, Terry, 39, said: "Nathan loved swimming. He got up really early yesterday ready for the school trip.

"He was boisterous, but loving. This is an accident that never should have happened."

The school, leisure centre staff, Buckinghamshire county and Thame town councils will work with the police and South Oxfordshire corner's office to try and establish what happened.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire NHS Ambulance Trust said: "Paramedics did everything in their power to sustain Nathan's life."