Rescuers in hunt for boy lost at sea near Swansea

Published on 20/08/2012 00:41

AN AIR and sea rescue for a missing four-year-old boy is expected to resume this morning.

The boy’s parents frantically tried to rescue him after he entered the water on the south side of a slip way at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset yesterday evening.

A member of the public witnessed their desperate attempts and called the emergency services.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a search involving a helicopter, coastguard rescue teams and two lifeboats began after the alarm was raised.

However, it was called off last night when it became too dark to search for the child.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman added: “A thorough search has been under way but due to loss of natural light the search has been suspended until the morning.

A spokeswoman from Swansea Coastguard said: “The parents of the child have been treated on scene after they went in after the boy and required medical treatment for water ingestion.“

“A member of the public dialled 999 at 6:04pm to inform Swansea Coastguard that they had seen two adults go in the water to attempt to rescue a small child and that they needed medical assistance.