A BRAVE teenager risked his life to rescue a drowning nine-year-old boy in the River Medway at Yalding, near Maidstone.

Euan Fackrell, of Greenfarm Lane, Shorne, near Gravesend, dived into the water when he saw the youngster swept into the river after sluice gates were opened.

Euan, 14, was fishing with his brother at the time and immediately braved the strong currents to save the child whose family looked on in horror.

He said: "This little boy fell in the water when the current was high, but I had no hesitation in jumping in, I just thought of the consequences. I don't think his family knew what happened. I got him over to the river edge but the current was strong so I needed my brother to help me out. I'm pleased with what I did. I've never done something like that before."

The boy he rescued had been standing close to the sluice gates, used to control water levels. A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "This is a very dangerous place and children must not play around there. The sluice gate keeps water levels high on one side of the river so boats can use it.

"If the level gets too high, the gates open and there is a rush of water. There are plenty of signs next to the gate, warning of the dangers."

Euan, a pupil at St George's School in Gravesend, may be rewarded for his efforts by a life-saving organisation.