A father and his five-year-old son were saved from drowning when two friends heard their desperate cries for help.

Luke Ellerby and Jordan Smith had been swimming in the River Medway at Yalding, close to the Anchor pub, when they noticed noises of distress.

The pair launched themselves back into the water and tried to help – but it was only thanks to a passing kayaker, who helped drag the man and his son to safety, that all involved weren’t seriously hurt.

Both the man, aged in his 30s, and his son were swimming in the section of the river beneath the bridge on Hampstead Lane when they started to struggle.

Vehicle technician Luke, 27, said: “There was a guy in the water, and for a while him and his kid had been making noises – but we didn’t think much of it at first.

“Then me and Jordan jumped in and swam for about 40 metres. The man must have been drowning for between five and 10 minutes.

“I had to get under the back of him to keep him afloat. Every time he breathed in he was taking in water and the boy was screaming in my face as I was trying to keep his dad alive.”

Luke, of Old Tovil Road, Maidstone, and 24-year-old Jordan, from Ringlestone, were also caught out by the current and were thankful for the kayaker’s intervention during the ordeal last Wednesday evening.

He said: “The kayaker came up the river from about 100 metres away.

"As soon as he got to us I grabbed onto the front of his kayak and he took us to a bit of ground where we could stand.

“The man was in shock. He was as white as a ghost. He took on so much water.

"I am a good swimmer and I was nearly drowning... if it wasn't for the kayaker, I think all of us would have drowned" - Luke Ellerby

"The ambulance turned up, and the paramedics checked them over. The police were there too.

“I am a good swimmer and I was nearly drowning. If it wasn’t for the kayaker, I think all of us would have drowned.

“At one point I was considering leaving the bloke to just focus on saving the kid. I was going to have to make a decision.

“I was traumatised. If anyone goes under in that water they aren’t getting out. That section of the water is so dangerous.”

The man and his son were taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital for further checks.

Two months ago Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Yalding Parish Council warned children and families of the dangers of swimming in the “vicious” village weir.

This followed several drowning near misses.

Adults, dogs and youngsters have almost perished in the Yalding water over the past year.

The area close to Teapot Island and The Lees attracts many visitors, especially in the summer, who enjoy paddling in the shallow river between the sluice gates and the bridge.

But the water can quickly change into a swirling mass when the automatic sluice gates open without warning.

Geraldine Brown, Yalding Parish Council chairman, said: “This water can sweep the kids away.”