Tributes have been paid to a talented young footballer who died after falling into the sea in Dymchurch.

It is believed nine-year-old Connor McDonald, who played for Ashford United Under 10s and was a pupil at Furley Park school in Ashford, suffered a heart attack after going into the water yesterday.

A passer-by walking his dog who dived in and dragged him to shore was left trapped against rocks and holding on for his own life.

Lifeboat crews rescued the man who was being battered by the waves having jumped in fully clothed to pull the boy ashore.

They have praised the incredibly brave actions of the man when he spotted the boy in trouble.

Today, Connor's headteacher, Paul Ketley, spoke of the "terrible tragedy" that has left staff and pupils "shocked and devastated".

He added that Connor had "touched the lives and hearts of all who knew him" and "will be missed terribly".

Mr Ketley said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Connor’s family and friends.

“He was a popular and fun member of our school community and a talented young sportsman."

Connor's football coach Jim Wealands said the team was devastated at the tragic news.

He said: "He was a fantastic lad and a very talented footballer.

"He got on with everyone, the team are devastated. Everyone loved him to bits. My son went to school with Connor and they were very close.

"He was an all round fantastic lad. He was so talented as a footballer, he could play anywhere on the football field.

"He scored a cracking goal just last week.

"It's hit us all really hard, it's one of those things that you see on the news but you do not expect it to happen to you.

"I had coached Connor for the last two seasons. My heart goes out to his family."

Ashford United Youth chairman Thomas Longmore added: "Our thoughts go out to the family. This has been a terrible tragedy."

Emergency services were called yesterday lunchtime to the Hythe Road area by the Martello Tower.

"It's just an awful incident and I can't begin to imagine what his family must be going through" - Matt Crittenden, RNLI

The Littlestone inshore lifeboat Fred Clarke launched at 12.40pm and arrived within minutes to find the boy already being treated by ambulance crews on the beach.

RNLI Littlestone's Matt Crittenden said: "The young lad was already out of the water by that point.

"There was another young lad with the boy who ran back to get the father.

"It seemed to be quite a high swell because it lifted them off the rocks.

"The other guy was stuck on the rocks and was taking quite a pounding. He was absolutely exhausted and was clinging on to the rocks. He is a brave man."

Mr Crittenden added that when crews brought the boy out of the water he was extremely hypothermic and very, very cold. He wasn't airlifted to hospital because ambulance crews wanted to work on him en route.

He was rushed to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford but died last night.

"We had a notice that he was starting to recover and his heart was beating again," Mr Crittenden added.

"It's just an awful incident and I can't begin to imagine what his family must be going through."

It was initially feared there was more than one child in the water but Mr Crittenden said it later emerged the other person was the rescuer.

Dover Coastguard watch manager Bob Giles said: “We think the boy had a heart attack.

“The lifeboat crew helped get him onto the prom where paramedics treated him.

"We sent two ranger boats, from the MOD, too and they got there after a minute or two.

“We thought they might have got to him in time, but we didn’t know his condition at that stage.

“We wonder if he might have had a medical condition no one knew about.

“It was a really bad day.”

Neighbours have reacted in shock to the news.

Mark Dorman said: "I heard the helicopter and noticed a car parked in a layby. I didn't realise how serious it was until the next door neighbour told me.

"Obviously it is very shocking."

A woman neighbour who did not want to be named said: "I was in the village centre and saw three police cars go through at speed.

"What has happened is very shocking but those rocks are very slippery and people have broken limbs on them.

"Everybody here is shocked as to what happened."

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