A man died after heroically jumping in the River Kent to save his neighbour's son.

Peter Cannon, 28, of Aysgarth Close, Kendal, dived into the fast-flowing river at Sandy Bottoms to rescue six-year-old Alfie Tallon, but then became submerged himself and was unable to re-surface.

Alfie's mother, Karen Airey, said Alfie was physically fine but coming to terms with what happened: "Peter is a hero. He sacrificed his life to save my son and I will be forever indebted for that and cannot sing his praises enough. It was a terrible, terrible tragedy."

Mr Cannon's partner Chantelle Bayman was struggling to believe what happened: "He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself and he was very kind and giving. To do something so selfless was in his nature."

Unemployed chef Mr Cannon was enjoying a riverside picnic on Sunday where the River Mint joins the River Kent with Miss Bayman, her two children Rebecca, nine, and eight-year-old Jordan, and Alfie.

The children had been paddling on the edge and playing with inflatable toys, when Alfie's toy slipped out of his hand. He tried to go after it, and fell in.

Miss Bayman, 28, said: "I was dipping my feet in trying to find a rock to get to the lad but Pete just jumped straight in - the water was freezing, it was just a nightmare.

"I ran back round to the kids, the kids were screaming. A young lad came along and we shouted him to get help - he went halfway in and we were able to grab Alfie. He said he was going to get help and ran off."

Mr Cannon was a good swimmer but he was floating away and was in the middle of the rapids, which were fast-flowing after the recent storms.

Miss Bayman went to get help and on the way she met Pam Jenkin who had come from her house on Kentrigg to see what all the noise was about.

Ms Jenkin said: "This girl came running up the path in a panic and said have you got a phone, my partner's in the water and has gone under the water and has not surfaced', so I rushed back and my partner dialled 999."

When the police arrived they jumped in, pulled the unconscious Mr Cannon out and tried to revive him. He was taken to Kendal's Westmorland General Hospital and later transferred to Furness General Hospital, in Barrow, where he died on Monday night.

Miss Bayman described Mr Cannon as a loving and thoughtful partner who enjoyed the outdoors: "I have so many fond memories of Pete. It is difficult to describe how much I will miss him and I want to thank Pete for saving the little boy.

"I have known him for just over a year and the young children look at him as a father, they doted on him and I don't think it has sunk in with them - they are very sad."

Mr Cannon was originally from Wilmslow, in Cheshire.

Miss Bayman also thanked the man who phoned the police, and the mystery passer-by. She said: "I would love to see the young lad again to say a big thank you for helping save Alfie."

Harold Gibson, of Kentrigg, who called the emergency services, believes more signs need to be put up at Sandy Bottoms to make people aware of the dangerous stretch of river.

The police have issued a warning reminding people about the dangers of entering water especially in the warm weather when it is more tempting. They stressed the water was much colder below the surface.