My understanding is that Lake Challa was regarded as safe and the party had asked local people if they should swim there and were given the go ahead

British High Commission spokesman

Kenyan police have confirmed the lake was "infested" with crocodiles, despite its reputation as a safe place to swim.

Miss Nicholls' family are said to be "absolutely devastated". Her father, Alan, flew to Kenya while her mother, Pamela, was being comforted by relatives.

The student, a former pupil at the independent St Albans High School for Girls, was on a gap year before going to Edinburgh University to read geography.

One of Amy's friends on the Kenya trip, Elspeth Harley, 18, said: "Amy swam a stroke and turned round to face the bank, then she suddenly started screaming.

'Freak accident'

"I held out my hand to her but in a few seconds she disappeared."

Miss Nicholls reportedly resurfaced momentarily to say: "It's got my feet, It's a crocodile."

The adventure company which Amy was travelling with has called her death a "freak accident".

A British High Commission spokesman said: "My understanding is that Lake Challa was regarded as safe and the party had asked local people if they should swim there and were given the go ahead."

Advice

The teenager was with 16 others working as conservation volunteers on a five-month expedition with Africa and Asia Venture Ltd at the Taita Discovery Centre, 80 miles away.

The students had taken advice from local hotel staff and a travel book which described the lake as a pleasant place to swim.

Janie Bell, whose husband Peter is a director of the travel company and has flown to Kenya with colleague Nigel Warren, said they believed the lake was safe for swimming.

"The Kenya Wildlife Service, the hotel and locals said it was and always has been crocodile-free."