A TEENAGE girl drowned as she tried to save her sweetheart who had plunged into a canal in a double tragedy at a Midland canal.

Sara Rylance, aged 17, died alongside 18-year-old Fayz Uddin in the 20ft-deep Smethwick Lock near Brasshouse Road, Smethwick, West Midlands.

The pair were believed to have become recently involved a relationship.

The tragedy happened shortly before 7.20pm on Wednesday.

It is thought that Fayz, a Halesowen College student, had slipped into the water and Sara was trying to save him when she plunged into the chilly waters.

Emergency services pulled them from the water a short while later but lost their desperate battle to save their lives and they were pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.

Sara’s heartbroken pal Sarah Louise Handley paid emotional tribute to them on Facebook.

She wrote: “You’re so brave, baby girl, for riskin your own life to save the one you love. You will be dearly missed.”

It was reported that Sara had recently posted on Fayz’s Facebook wall: “I love you babyz”.

At the scene of the incident, Yasmin, aged 17, wept as she spoke of her shock at the news of the pair’s death.

She said: “Fayz was just the most amazing guy and Sara was the strongest and most determined girl.

“They were a couple but obviously because of the general circumstances and different backgrounds they kept it quiet. Because of his family they couldn’t really say much but they really did like each other, I knew that.”