A TALENTED young cricketer who had just started his career with Hampshire drowned after friends urged him to jump into a river - despite knowing he couldn’t swim, an inquest heard.

Hamza Shabbir Ali, 20, who was tipped to become an international having already been picked for Hampshire’s 1st XI, died on a day out with pals who were swimming in a river and using a rope swing.

Witnesses heard Hamza telling friends he couldn’t swim after they shouted ‘come on get in the water’.

He eventually jumped in and went under while trying to “doggy paddle” across the River Avon in Saltford near Bath.

Bystander Jessica Tolliver described hearing Hamza’s two friends encouraging him into the water near the Jolly Sailor pub on June 8.

Ms Tolliver, who was at the pub with her ex-partner Steven Martin and their daughter, said “I heard Steve say ‘I think he is drowning’.

"When I looked up he was going under the water and panicking. It was hard to watch the male struggling to swim.’’

Jessica says her partner jumped in to try and save him - but Hamza’s two friends just watched from the embankment.

She said: “Steven kept diving under to help. The two friends on the rope swing did not get in to help Steven.

“I saw the male bob up a few times, he was probably struggling for one to two minutes before he finally went under.”

The inquest in Flax Bourton in Bristol heard that several onlookers who had jumped into the water poked around with a stick until Hamza’s motionless body floated to the surface around 10 minutes later.

The rescuers pulled Hamza’s body onto the embankment and administered CPR before ambulance crews arrived.

Hamza was airlifted to Bristol Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead at 3.10am the following morning.

Ms Tolliver said around 20 people dived into the river to look for Hamza.

She claimed in evidence emergency services arrived around 20 minutes later and by that point Hamza’s two friends had gone.

The youngster, who lived in Whitehall, Bristol, was pulled onto the embankment by William Datson.

Mr Datson told the inquest: “At about 4.30pm I was working in my workshop when I heard a commotion and I saw people running to the nearby lock.

“I heard someone shout someone has gone under, so I remove my clothes and jumped in to where I saw bubbles.

“I dived down about three-four metres and had a feel around until I felt arm and then saw an unconscious body come up to the top.”

Assistant coroner for Avon, Dr Peter Harrowing recorded a conclusion that Hamza’s death was accidental.

“It’s always tragic when anyone loses their life in such circumstances, he was a young man of only 20 years of age and was destined for a successful career as a cricketer,” said Dr harrowing.

Hamza, a right arm fast medium bowler, made two Hampshire Second XI appearances last season before making his First Class debut whilst on trial with the club in a pre-season friendly against Cardiff MCCU at the Ageas Bowl in April.

He then went on to play a number games on trial for the MCC Young Cricketers.

Hamza had been recommended to MCC by Hampshire Cricket.

For the past couple of winters he had also travelled to Pakistan to play for Rawalpindi Rams.