Tributes to tragic tot

Flowers left for boy, two, found dead after search

FLORAL tributes have been left close to a Tayside river where a two-year-old boy died.

The tot’s body was pulled from the River Ericht at Milton of Drimmie, near Bridge of Cally in Perthshire, following a major search yesterday after the youngster was reported missing.

Today, locals had left bunches of flowers tied to a gate near the rural farmhouse where the boy is understood to have lived. A toy had also been left at the scene.

Police were still present today but officers said that nobody was in the boy’s family home.

The toddler had not been named at the time of going to press.

A local gamekeeper who helped in the search broke down as he spoke to the Tele about the tragedy today.

The man, who did not wish to be named, had helped in the hunt for the youngster after he had been reported missing just after 11am yesterday.

He said: “I was involved in the search straight away. This is a tragedy. I have grandkids that age.”

Another neighbour said the whole community would be upset.

He added: “This is a big glen with a small community. It will affect us all.

“The first I knew about it was on the news last night. It’s a total tragedy.” Another local, who didn’t wish to be named, added: “This is such a terrible thing to have happened.”

Police, fire and rescue crews, and an air ambulance were among the emergency services called to the scene yesterday. They spent just over an hour scouring the area before the boy’s body was found. A police cordon was thrown up around roads, limiting access, as a huge number of emergency service vehicles built up.

A police spokesman said: “Around 11.15am yesterday police in Perthshire received a report of a two-year-old boy missing from a property in the Milton of Drimmie area, close to Bridge of Cally, in Perthshire.

“Officers immediately launched a full search of the area, with assistance from the Police Scotland helicopter and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service personnel.

“Around 12.35pm, the child was located in the River Ericht, close to the property. He was removed from the water by fire personnel and treated by paramedics, who had attended the scene with the air ambulance.

“Tragically, the boy did not survive. His family are being supported by officers at this time.”

Flowers left close to the scene of the toddler’s death.

Police near the scene today.