Inquest into boy who fell off seaside jetty to begin

A four-year-old boy drowned after slipping from a jetty, a coroner said today.

• Dylan Cecil holidaying with his parents and visting relatives at Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset

• Boy slipped from jetty into the water while trying to get a closer look at the sea

Dylan Cecil was visiting his grandparents with his family, when he fell into the water at Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset on Sunday 19 August.

His parents, Rachel McCollum and Darren Cecil, tried to rescue their son, but to no avail.

His body was found by a member of the public four days.

Coroner Michael Rose today said a post-mortem examination showed Dylan drowned.

He offered his sympathy to the family, adding: “There can be nothing more harrowing for any parent than to witness the death of a child.

“But I hope his parents will take comfort from the fact that their grief is shared by all in the county, especially those in Burnham-on-Sea and all the emergency services.”

No members of Dylan’s family were present at the short hearing when his inquest was opened in Taunton. It was adjourned until a date yet to be set.