Updated: August 20, 2012
Latest: Huge search for missing boy, 4, continues in Burnham-On-Sea

A major search operation for a four year-old boy who went missing from the end of Burnham's jetty last night is continuing today (Monday).

Overnight, Coastguards, lifeboats and hovercraft crews continued to search the sea and mudflats with no sign of the youngster being found.

Over 50 people are today searching the coastline for the missing four year-old, including two hovercrafts from BARB (Burnham Area Rescue Boat), two RNLI lifeboats and scores of land searchers.

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

A member of the public dialled 999 to inform Swansea Coastguard that they had seen two adults go into the water to attempt to rescue the child and that they needed medical assistance.

A Coastguard spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The parents of the child were 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 the 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 several hours.