A British mother who died attempting to rescue her two sons after a current swept them away in the Bahamas was a “hero in life and in death”, her husband has said.

Leanne Gregory, 36, had been snorkelling with her family when the boys were swept away by a strong current, according to local police.

Although the children were rescued from the water, their mother was unable to be saved, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said.

In a post on GoFundMe, Nathan Gregory wrote that his wife, from Stapleford in Nottinghamshire, was “sadly taken from us after saving my son's life in a rip tide”.

Leanne Gregory

GoFundMe

He added: “She held him until he was rescued but didn’t have the energy to save herself, after a freak wave swept the boat away from her.”

Mr Gregory said: “This loss is unimaginable for our family, she was our foundation, our support, she made us who we are.

“We were childhood sweethearts, my one and only. 22 years into our relationship at only 36-years-old.

“We had our whole lives ahead of us and it has all been taken away.

“I just have to be thankful for the hero she was in life and in death, and totally grateful for the fact my boys got out safely.

“Thankful for the people in the boat that noticed me flag it down after I struggled out the water, and got them out. Thankful to the lady that helped me try bring her back when the boat returned.

Thankful for my boys for remaining strong after seeing something nobody should ever see.

“But mainly thankful to my brave, amazing wife for keeping my boy above the water even as you were sinking. You will be forever loved by everyone you knew and I know you will continue to watch over us.”

The incident occurred off the coast of Bimini in the Bahamas

PA

In a statement posted on social media, the RBPF said that officers received reports shortly after 10am local time on Tuesday that a woman had been found unresponsive at the North Bimini Ferry Dock.

She was brought to the ferry dock where CPR was given, and was then taken to a local medical clinic but was confirmed dead there.

It said an autopsy would be conducted but that "foul play is not suspected".

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family of a British woman who has died in the Bahamas.

“We are in contact with the local authorities and providing support to her family.”