THE families of cousins who died in a swimming tragedy in Vienna say they have been overwhelmed by the support they have been offered.

Joel Aniyankunj, 19 and Jason Varghese, 15, drowned at the Old Danube beauty spot in Vienna on Thursday after taking a boat ride on the picturesque lake.

Their family and friends were stunned by the terrible news of their deaths.

But family friend Suresh Daniel told The Bolton News: “I cannot express in words the way the community has come together to support the families of the two boys.” He said three friends had immediately arranged flights to Austria to be with the parents of the boys and to help them cope with the shock of their deaths.

Friends at home belonging to the churches where the boys attended and their Indian Kerala community have been organising the funeral for the pair.

Mr Daniel said: “We are all devastated and at the same time they are supporting the family. We have to come together as a community at a time like this. No one expected this, it is double the devastation.

“We all feel like we have lost part of ourselves.”

He said Joel and Jason were very popular boys and were role models for the other youngsters at their churches: the St George Indian Orthodox Church in Belgrave Street, Bolton, and the Tabore Marthoma Community Church in Manchester.

Tania Lewyckyj, headteacher of St James' Farnworth, said: "We were devastated to hear the news of Jason and his cousin’s death on holiday.

"Jason was the perfect gentleman and always had a smile for everyone. He was a great sportsman and loved life. Jason was very bright and had dreams to do do great things in the future. All the more difficult to come to terms with such a young life coming to an end. We can not comprehend that he will not return to us in September.

"His fellow Year 11 students will be on work experience until the 10th September and a text has been sent to all parents informing them of the support available through our counsellors, staff and chaplain.

"Special services will take place at school, along with an area set aside for staff and pupils to write their prayers, thoughts and condolences to the family.

"It goes without saying that the start back to this year will be very sombre but with God to guide us and our school community supporting each other, we will work together to come to terms with the loss of such a caring young man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

The two teenagers were visiting relatives in Vienna and were due to return home on Sunday.

The young men, sons of two sisters who work as nurses at Bolton Royal Hospital, were enjoying a boys’ day out with relatives at a nature park when tragedy struck.

Jason, got into difficulty when swimming around a boat.

His cousin swam over to help, but also got into difficulty. Both boys disappeared under the water.

The Austrian emergency services launched a rescue operation with 10 police divers forming a “human underwater chain” to search the depths of the lake.

Jason’s body was raised from the water nearly five hours later, followed by the discovery of Joel’s body.

A joint service will be held for Joel and Jason at the Our Lady of Lourdes church, Plodder Lane, Farnworth on Saturday, September 8, at 10am.

A burial service will follow at Heaton Cemetery at 2pm and family from India, Abu Dhabi and Europe are expected to attend.