A family was struggling to come to terms with the drowning of teenager Glen McCulloch, who died after being dragged from the River Thames in Oxford.

The 16-year-old, of Mortimer Road, Rose Hill, was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital yesterday afternoon after getting into difficulties swimming in the river near the A423 bypass near Iffley.

His parents were at his bedside when he died early today and were too upset to talk.

The boy's aunt, Ann Foster, of Lenthall Road, Rose Hill, said: "Glen was a wonderful boy and it is such a tragedy that he has been taken away from us.

"We are all very upset by this sad event and are struggling to come to terms with it."

Glen was pulled out of the river by passers-by yesterday after he and another boy went swimming.

Oxford police spokesman Duncan McGraw said a boat owner saw the teenager's head going under the water and raised the alarm.

He added: "Early indications are that he was swimming in the river before he got into difficulties. This was a tragic accident and our sympathies go out to the boy's family."

Passers-by gave Glen mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Police carried on the life-saving procedure until an ambulance arrived. A fire crew also attended.

Supt John Willis, of the Ambulance Service, said paramedics inserted a tube into his throat to help him breathe and set up a drip on the river-bank. He added: "He was stabilised prior to removal to hospital by a Thames Valley Police helicopter." "A paramedic travelled in the helicopter continuing treatment until he was handed over to the hospital.

"We would like to thank the Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Fire Service for their invaluable assistance."

A police investigation is now under way.

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