Wednesday 22 August 2012

Minute's silence planned in memory of Dylan, 4

A MINUTE's silence is to be held in memory of four-year-old Dylan Cecil who disappeared after falling into the sea at Burnham.

The tribute will be paid at the town's annual rescue services day at 10am on Sunday.

Almost 20 different emergency service groups, including the Burnham Area Rescue Boat charity, Burnham RNLI, HM Coastguard, police and the fire and ambulance service, will take part in the event.

Dylan, who his family described as a 'lovely, bubbly child' vanished after falling from the jetty on the beach on Sunday evening, Dylan and his family, from Kettering, were in the area to visit his grandparents David and Jackie McCollum who live locally. Dylan was playing on the beach with his parents and two sisters, aged one and three, when it appears he fell from the walkway.

His frantic parents jumped in the water in a bid to save Dylan but could not reach him.

Paramedics treated them for shock and water ingestion after they were pulled from the water following a call to the emergency services from a member of the public.

A massive search of the coast got underway, involving four coastguard rescue teams, four lifeboats, three helicopters and two hovercraft who searched through the night in a desperate attempt to find the youngster. It is understood that Dylan's family remained on the beach throughout the search, which was halted after dark on Sunday but resumed at first light on Monday.

By this time coastguards admitted the search had now become and attempt to recover Dylan's body as police divers joined the search.

The search has now officially been called off after coastguards admitted they had 'covered every possible area that we can think of".

Dozens of floral tributes have been laid at the spot nearest to where Dylan disappeared by local people who are reported to be 'stunned and devastated' by the tragedy.

The Bristol Channel has the second highest rise and fall tide in the world and fast currents.

Coastguard chiefs said that the currents would have made it very difficult for Dylan to attempt to swim back to shore.

The treacherous conditions in the channel mean it may be days, even weeks, before Dylan's body can be recovered.

One of the organisers of the rescue services day said: "This year's event will be sombre after this week's sad event.

"The day is an essential opportunity to give out safety advice at the height of the tourist season.

"It will also be an opportunity for visitors to see the work of our local emergency services at first hand and support them."

During the day there will be safety demonstrations and displays along the seafront and beach until 5pm.

These will include rescue demonstrations from the coastguard, local lifeguards, the helicopter and hovercraft. A procession of the rescue vehicles will also take part in a procession along the beach from Burnham to Berrow.

Minute's silence planned in memory of Dylan, 4

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