The parents of a young Army captain who drowned on a kayaking holiday in New Zealand today praised the actions of his Baildon best pal George Fell, who battled to save his life.

Trainee meteorologist Mr Fell was on holiday on South Island when Capt James Acton, 27, became trapped in rapids on the Waikaia river and was forced under the water.

Mr Fell, 27, and another friend Tony Roberts tried to free him and managed to get a rope around him but the line slipped off.

Search and rescue teams and a rescue helicopter went into the remote area after the two survivors raised the alarm by hacking their way through dense bush and rough terrain to reach a farm.

Today Mr Fell's mother, Jean, spoke of her shock at receiving a phone call in the middle of the night telling her about the tragedy.

Mrs Fell said: "It was a very brief call from George saying that there had been a terrible accident and James had died. He just said that he was okay and would be in contact later. It's just been a terrible shock."

The pair became friends while they studied at Oxford University together.

Mr Acton's body was located in a deep gorge on Sunday by a helicopter.

Today his father, businessman Robin Acton, of Standerwick, Frome, Somerset, said he and his wife Anne were "devastated by this tragic accident" but praised the actions of his friends.

He said: "We have known both George and Tony for many years. All three were great friends and the only consolation we have is that James died doing something he loved.

"James had told us he was having the holiday of his life, it was his passion, he lived for the Army and for whitewater canoeing.

"I know that George and Tony could not have been more brave or supportive. They did everything by the book. Their friendship meant a lot to James, it was genuine."

Capt Acton joined the Royal Signals in 1999 after passing out from Sandhurst as the year's top academic graduate, winning him the Queen's Medal. After serving in Bosnia and Kosovo, he was second-in-command of 232 Signals Squadron in Germany.