Published: August 21, 2012
Burnham-On-Sea hovercrafts in huge search for missing Dylan Cecil

Burnham-On-Sea's hovercrafts and crews have been involved in the huge search operation to find a missing four year-old boy this week.

Dylan Cecil's parents frantically tried to rescue him on Sunday evening after he slipped off the town's jetty into the sea, but they were unable to reach him.

The youngster had wanted to get a closer look at the sea and went onto the jetty with his parents, Rachel McCollum and Darren Cecil, and his two younger sisters, aged one and three, at about 6pm.

Crewmembers from hovercraft resue charity BARB (Burnham Area Rescue Boat) worked closely with crews from the Coastguard, lifeboats and police in an all-night search operation that continued on Monday until 4.30pm when it was called off.

"Our volunteers searched on foot and used our two hovercrafts on local beaches, the estuaries of the River Brue and River Parrett, and also Stert Island over many hours without any sign being found of missing Dylan," said a BARB spokesman.

"No effort has been spared to try and recover him. We appreciate the many kind comments and support from the community for our crewmembers and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Dylan's family at this terrible time."