Published: August 20, 2012
Coastguards in Burnham-On-Sea confirm they are searching for a body

Coastguards searching for a missing four year-old boy off the coast of Burnham-On-Sea have confirmed they are now looking for a body as they enter a 'recovery' phase.

Over 50 people from the Coastguard, RNLI and BARB (Burnham Area Rescue Boat) are today (Monday) searching Burnham's coastline for the youngster, who went missing from the end of Burnham's jetty at 6pm last night.

Tris Newey, Severn Sector Coastguard Manager, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It has now become a recovery operation. It has been many hours since the boy stepped off the jetty. Last night we searched with helicopters, lifeboats and other crews into the early hours of the morning."

"The search began again at first light today and we are now in a search and recovery operation. The hovercraft are searching the mudbanks and inaccessable parts of the estuary while the boats are searching the water and the riverbank."

"We have seven search teams involved in the operation, searching up and down the river. It has been an intense search with many people involved."

Click here for the latest on the search for the missing boy