THE best friend of a teenager who drowned in floodwater has been hailed a hero for trying to save his life.

At the inquest into the death of Max Sullivan-Webb – also known as Max Weeden – yesterday, Oxford Coroner’s Court heard how 17-year-old Daniel Martin stayed in the water with his friend, while 12-year-old Connor Lawler ran for help.

The three boys were playing in flooded fields off Eastfield Road, in Witney, on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 3.

They were walking along a small stream when Max’s foot became stuck.

Daniel, of Hoyle Close, Witney, told the inquest: “We (Daniel and Connor) got out as it got too deep, but Max carried on and he just walked and stumbled. He said, ‘I have got my foot stuck’ and me and Connor tried to get him out.”

A month of rain fell in that day, causing flooding on fields behind Eastfield Road.

Connor ran to a nearby house in Eastfield Road where resident Julie Anne Porter dialled 999.

Daniel stayed with Max and tried to keep his head above the water.

Steve Harrison, of Oxfordshire fire and rescue service, said it took four firemen to pull Max out of the culvert.

He was not breathing and they tried in vain to resuscitate him.

Mr Harrison said: “He (Daniel) couldn’t have done more at all, it was absolutely incredible the work that he did in trying to hold onto his friend until we arrived.”

Mr Harrison told the inquest the suction of water being drawn into the culvert had trapped the 17-year-old former Wood Green School pupil.

Max, a former Oxford Mail paperboy, of Judds Close, Witney, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, but was pronounced dead later that night.

Daniel was treated for hypothermia.

Recording a verdict of accidental death Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: “His friends would have had no chance of retrieving him.

“I congratulate Daniel on his efforts, this is clearly an accidental event. It clearly shows Daniel’s heroic efforts that it took four firemen to get him (Max) out of the culvert.”

Max’s parents, Kate and Tim Weeden, were too upset to speak after the inquest.

Max’s grandmother Patricia Weeden, 68, of Freeland, west Oxfordshire, said: “How wonderful of Daniel and Connor to be there. I can never thank them enough.

“Connor was the young one that went off to get help.

“Daniel was trying to hold Max’s head above water – he couldn’t have done any more.

“For Max to know that his friend was there, he wasn’t alone.

“Max and I used to have some great talks – he would say lovely things. I used to take him swimming, we would have great fun in the pool – he was game for anything.

“I just feel sad that he had so much to give in his life ahead of him.”