British boy, 11, drowns on holiday at campsite in France

Child from East Yorkshire got into difficulty while swimming in lake

The boy drowned while swimming in a lake at La Croix du Vieux Pont campsite (Google Street View)

A British boy has died during a family holiday at a campsite in northern France.

The 11-year-old, believed to be from East Yorkshire, reportedly drowned after getting into difficulty in a lake in Berny-Riviere.

He was found unconscious at La Croix du Vieux Pont campsite at around 6.30pm on Thursday, according to local media. He was flown to a hospital in Paris by helicopter but could not be saved.

The campsite, which is located in the Picardy region about 60 miles northeast of Paris, is managed by the European Camping Group and is popular with British holidaymakers.

The boy and his family had been travelling with Kent-based tour operator Venue Holidays, who confirmed his death.

"Our hearts go out to the family concerned at this awful time," the company said in a statement. "A senior director is on the campsite to offer assistance to the family and to ascertain what has happened.

"We will of course co-operate fully with the owners of the campsite and with any official enquiry that the French authorities may instigate.

"We will help the family in whatever way is possible and would request that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

European Camping Group expressed "deep sorrow for the family" of the boy who died. It added: "The camping direction and its staff, shocked by this tragedy, are with the holidaymakers and a psychological support was set up, 24 hours a day with an English-speaking French psychologist.

"The group, for the first time confronted with a fatal accident on one of its camping [sites], collaborates with the authorities to shed light on the circumstances of the accident."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in France and are in contact with the French authorities."

According to its website, La Croix du Vieux Pont has 660 camping plots spread over 100 acres and has heated pool complex as well as a lake surrounded by a man-made beach.