Published: August 19, 2012
Search for boy, 4, missing in sea underway in Burnham-On-Sea

A major search operation for a four year-old boy who went missing from the end of Burnham's jetty was underway on Sunday, August 19th.

Three helicopters, three teams of Coastguards, plus four lifeboats and hovercraft crews conducted a huge search of Bridgwater Bay after eyewitnesses saw the youngster go missing from the end of Burnham's jetty at around 6pm.

A Coastguard spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "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."

"Swansea Coastguard sent the Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard rescue team to the scene, along with two Burnham-On-Sea RNLI lifeboats."

The Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Portland was also on scene, along with a police helicopter, BARB and Avon ambulance service.

The coastline and waters were searched for any sight of the missing youngster.

RNLI, BARB and Coastguard crew members, equipped with ropes, searched the shallow waters along the beach and the River Brue estuary for over three hours until darkness fell.