A champion windsurfer is presumed drowned after falling from a jet ski in the English Channel.

Andy Funnell, 21, from Seaford, was one of Britain's most promising stars in his sport.

Coastguards and lifeboat crews called off a search for him yesterday.

Mr Funnell came first in the UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) indoor jump contest at the London Boat Show in January in front of 1,500 people, winning £1,500.

Before the career-best win he had spent the winter training in South Africa. His windsurfing had taken him worldwide, including to the paradise isle of Maui.

Dorset-based sports manufacturer Animal recently signed him up in a sponsorship deal.

Officials said he could have become a world force in windsurfing, a sport he took up in 1993.

In a recent interview, he said: "I have hospitalised myself twice in two years at Pozo. The most recent was a near neck-breaking double forward loop crash."

Mr Funnell attended 1,400-pupil Seaford Head Community College in Arundel Road, Seaford, and left after taking his GCSEs. His parents live in Seaford.

A major air-sea search failed to locate his body off Seaford Bay.

He was riding a jet ski in calm conditions when he fell off at 7.30pm on Tuesday. It is believed he hit his head.

A friend on the beach realised he had fallen beneath the surface and dialled 999.

Lifeboatmen said Mr Funnell was wearing only a pair of shorts and had no life jacket or wetsuit.

The search operation involved lifeboats, coastguards and the Sussex Police helicopter. Their efforts were abandoned at 11.30pm on Tuesday as darkness fell and resumed again at 6am yesterday.

Mr Funnell's jet ski was recovered and taken on board the Newhaven lifeboat as the search was extended to Belle Tout, near Beachy Head.

But by early afternoon, rescuers called off the search as hopes of finding him alive faded.

Friend Jo Gregory said: "It doesn't make any sense at all. I was in South Africa with him where the waves can be particularly unforgiving and he had no problems there whatsoever.

"For him to get into trouble over here seems to make no sense. Even in South Africa he would recover himself really easily after a fall.

"It's just a complete tragedy because he had so much to look forward to.

"Without doubt he was one of Britain's brightest windsurfing prospects. There was so much potential there that it was quite frightening."

Another friend said: "His parents will be devastated. He was the apple of their eye. Andy was such a lovely bloke, one of those who could get on with anyone. He had a great sense of humour and was so kind."

A Sussex Police underwater search team was due to visit the area this morning but a spokesman said it was dependent on the weather.

He said: "The 21-year-old local man is still missing at sea in what appears to be a tragic accident."