Boy dies after being swept out to sea

A four-year-old boy died yesterday after being swept out to sea as he played on rocks.

A four-year-old boy died yesterday after being swept out to sea as he played on rocks.

The boy's mother and a family friend made desperate attempts to rescue him but were unable to retrieve him from the water at Portheras Cove in Pendeen, Cornwall.

A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter was scrambled and managed to pull the boy from the water. The crew took him to the Treliske hospital in Truro, Cornwall. The Sennen Cove all-weather and inshore lifeboats and the St Just Coastguard Rescue Team were also sent to the area.

A coastguard spokesman said: "The helicopter was able to recover the boy immediately and every effort was made to revive him in the helicopter and on arrival at the hospital but, sadly, the boy died.

"The mother and friend were also transferred to hospital suffering from hypothermia. The boy's brother was also taken with them so that he could be with his mother."

The spokesman added that there were heavy seas in the area at the time.

Mick Quinn, the Coastguard Watch Manager at Falmouth, Cornwall, said: "This is a very sad occasion for all concerned and our sympathies are with the mother and family at this time.

"Our plea to all parents is to keep an eye on all young children whenever you are near the sea," he added.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that police had been alerted to the incident but were unable to provide details of the family at this stage.