THE parents of 12-year-old Rhys Jones, who died in a river tragedy, have descr-ibed their boy as kind, gentle and the best son they could have.

Rhys, from Rogerstone, was swept down the fast-flowing River Ebbw, at Rhiwderin, with three friends, all 12, on Saturday.

Police pulled the Bassaleg Comprehensive School pupil from the river but he was pronounced dead upon arr-ival at the Royal Gwent Hospital. His three friends, who all went to the same school, survived.

Mr and Mrs Jones, who have asked for their first names not to be published to respect their privacy, said: "Our son Rhys was a kind, gentle, cheeky, well-mannered young lad.

"He had the whole world in front of him before this tragic accident. "His girlfriend Beth summed him up in her testimony to him, saying he was the best boyfriend ever, he was also the best son."

Rhys' 15-year-old sister said: "Rhys was a very active boy and he enjoyed going out with his friends, he liked playing football and he supported Man United.

"He was the best brother you could ever ask for, he'd always cheer me up if I was feeling down."

Helen Davies, the mother of one of the boys who survived the ordeal said: "We are grateful our son was saved but are so sad because poor little Rhys was lost."

Ms Davies, 39, said her son Gethin Davies was having a week off school to recover from the shock.

The mother-of-two said from her Park Avenue home in Rogerstone: "When we first saw Gethin he was shaking and was soaking and was repeatedly saying 'Mum, I nearly drowned'.

"He has told us he somehow managed to grab onto a stick or a branch and was able to get up the bank with another boy.

"He really thought he was going to die. I think he is going to have to have some sort of counselling as it's such a shock for an adult, never mind a child."

The boys are understood to have been using a makeshift raft before getting into difficulties.