Pupils from Wootton Bassett School were rescued from a South African ocean after a trip ended in tragedy.

Then man who saved them, expedition leader Sean Foxcroft, is feared dead.

The school party will head for home tomorrowy.

Youngsters from the school were in the ocean in South Africa when they were caught in danger currents that tried to sweep them to deeper water.

Mr Foxcroft, from Bury, Lancashire, dashed into the water to rescue them and although the youngsters escaped the waters, the 24-year-old was lost at sea.

It is believed the 15 youngsters will return home tomorrow.

The tragedy comes just nine months after Bob and Deb Fry and Jean Dinsmore from Wootton Bassett drowned in seas off the Algarve, Portugal, trying to rescue their children from similar dangerous currents.

"This is awful, especially in light of what happened during the tragedy in the Algarve last year," said Wootton Bassett mayor Mike Leighfield.

"It shows how good the leader was.

"He risked his own life to get them out of the sea."

The school pupils involved in the freak accident were accompanied by four teachers on the trip.

Mr Foxcroft worked for travel business World Challenge and was supervising the youngsters on the four-week overseas trip.

It is believed shortly before the incident they were playing rugby on the beach and some of the youngsters had entered the shallow surf to cool down, but they were quickly swept out and began to struggle.

After Mr Foxcroft disappeared into the sea South African authorities launched a search with a helicopter, boats and foot patrols along the beach.

But yesterday his employers World Challenge said he had still not been found.

Woottton Bassett School assistant head Brian Weston said: "My thoughts are with the families of the expedition leader.

"The staff and students are all safe."

A friend of one of the families whose teenager was on the trip said: "Words are not enough. I feel for everybody involved - the children in the party and the parents."

Wootton Bassett Methodist Church Minister Steve Cullis said: "We are as a church community really shocked to hear the news.

"The school party and the family of the guide are very much in our prayers at the moment."

The pupils had spent the past three-and-a-half weeks trekking in South Africa and were winding down before their return.

They are receiving counselling after the trauma.