Community in shock as body of boy found in river
Flowers left in tribute to local youngster:
A SCHOOLBOY was found dead after an extensive police search of a river near Fernhill in the Cynon Valley.
Friends of the youngster have left poignant tributes at the scene of the tragedy, which happened near Fernhill and Cwmbach on Monday evening.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the area after reports that a boy had got into difficultly in the river.
The search of the area involved police, firefighters, paramedics and an emergency services helicopter.
Fire crews from Aberdare, Pontypridd, Barry, Treharris, and Abercynon attended, as well as specialist water rescue teams from Malpas and Ebbw Vale
Despite the best efforts of ambulance crews at the scene, the boy – who has only been named so far in the tributes as a Year Three Mountain Ash Comprehensive School pupil called Chris – was later confirmed dead.
South Wales Police said: “Sadly a male youth has been confirmed dead at the scene of an incident near Fernhill.
“We were called at 5.40pm (on Monday) to reports of a young person in the river near Fernhill.
“An extensive search was carried out involving specialist police teams, the helicopter and the fire and rescue service.”
A GoFundMe page has since been set up by members of the local community to raise money for the family of the young boy.
It says: “The family of little Chris are going to be going through the most horrific of times.
“As a community we have always stuck together to aid with financial costs at a loss such as this.
“It is a small way we can pull together to elevate some of the heartache the family will be experiencing.”
Tributes at the scene said “Fly high bro”, “We all miss you” and “We love you so much”.
One friend wrote: “You meant the world to me, your laugh changed everybody’s mood, you was the funniest boy in the world.”
Another wrote: “To the funniest and bestest of friends, I hope u rock hard up there and be as happy as u was down here, if I could change the world to even have just one game of football with you then I would. The best always gets taken too soon.”
Mountain Ash councillor Pauline Jarman, a chair of governors at the boy’s school, said everyone was “absolutely devastated”.
She added: “A child has lost his life in the shadow of the school.
“The emergency services tried as hard as they could to recover him as early as possible and worked endlessly to revive him, but today the school is in mourning.
“We have arranged to get support services into the school for the children and staff who may need some emotional support. We’re in absolute shock and it’s a sad day.
“He was such a nice little lad who had quite a few friends who must be absolutely torn and his family must be devastated.
“We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family at this sad time.”
Ray Thomas, of Fernhill and Glenboi Community Centre, said: “As a community, we are devastated by the tragic events that unfolded last night. We cannot begin to comprehend what Chris’ family and friends are going through at this horrendous time.
“Chris may not have lived in our community long but once you live in this fantastic community you become one of our own.
“As a community centre, we will be working closely with Pastor Samuel Johnson and the other staff and volunteers at Cynon Valley Church, which is situated in the community link building on Fernhill, to provide a drop-in service at the church in the coming days between 5pm-6pm to provide support to all those affected by this tragedy.
“We want to express our sincere heartfelt condolences to Chris’ family and friends at this truly sad time.”