Action on canal safety after death of Dylan, 3
River Trust forming Water Safety Partnership with council and emergency services following tragedy
A WATER Safety Partnership could be established to help prevent further tragedies in Newbury’s town centre canal and river.
The news comes after the death of three-year-old Dylan Milsom, who fell into the water by Ash Bridge on Saturday, March 13.
Dylan and his mother, Shelley Nardini, were rescued and taken to hospital, but Dylan died hours later.
An urgent investigation into his death has been launched.
More than 5,000 people have since signed a petition calling for the weir where he died to be fenced off.
And the Canal and River Trust, which owns the land and sluice, has now said it has spoken to West Berkshire Council and other agencies to try to establish a Water Safety Partnership.
A trust spokesperson said: “Our sympathy and thoughts continue to be with Dylan’s family.
“In the days since his tragic death, we have been speaking with the council and other authorities to propose that we establish a Water Safety Partnership which will bring together the relevant agencies, including the police and fire brigade, to work together to make the canal through Newbury as safe as possible.
“The trust regularly undertakes risk assessments for the popular visitor areas along our canals and, in light of this tragedy, we are conducting an urgent investigation to identify any immediate measures which could improve safety along this section of the canal.”
Newbury MP Laura Farris has also asked for a meeting with the trust to discuss safety measures.
The stretch of water through the town centre has seen a number of fatalities in recent years.
THE family of a three-year-old boy who died after falling into the canal in Newbury have paid tribute to him.
Dylan Milsom and his mother both went into the water by Ash Bridge, near the weir behind the former Newbury Weekly News offices, on Saturday, March 13.
They were rescued and taken to hospital, but Dylan died hours later.
The family have thanked the emergency services for “doing everything they could to save our little boy”.
In a statement, released via Thames Valley Police last week, the family said: “Dylan was our rainbow baby; and we knew he was special from the moment he was born. He brought a ray of sunshine into our lives.
“Blossoming into a happy, brave and warm little boy, his brightness simply shone from him wherever he went, always saying hello with a smile to everyone he met.
“He had an infectious energy for life and poured his heart and soul into everything he did.
“Life was one big, exciting adventure and more than anything he loved being outdoors, so walks were part of our daily lives.
“When out and about it was rare to see Dylan without his scooter or more recently his first bike which Santa had delivered down the chimney just last
Christmas, and if he wasn’t on two wheels, he was on his dad’s two shoulders!
“On our walks, Dylan would splash in puddles, squelch through mud and climb any log he could find!
“We would pick up pooh sticks to throw into the river from the little bridge, feed the ducks, always keeping a lookout for oval stones to add to his collection at home, and talk about ‘the sleeping hedgehog’ better known to us as fir cones!
“Our walks would often have a park along the way where Dylan would often make a friend and he loved to play with others.
“Dylan was such a bright, clever and inquisitive boy who absorbed all that was around him.
“When asked, he would always say his favourite colours were yellow, orange, pink and purple – a very bright mix, fitting for such a bright boy.
“Dylan loved going to preschool so much, springing out of bed with a cheer on the days he went to Chieveley Pre-School, excited to see his friends.
“Dylan’s warmth didn’t stop with just a smile for those he met, he was generous and always wanted to be helpful, whether this be tidying up his toys, grooming our dog, unpacking the shopping or helping with his little brother.
“He was great at encouraging his baby brother to learn new skills like rolling, walking and how to play games and when his brother needed comfort, Dylan would sing to him Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
“Dylan truly was the best big brother anyone could wish for.
“Dylan was such a funny little boy, bursting with character, a cheeky laugh and just the right amount of mischief.
“We often called him a cheeky monkey and he would always respond by telling us he was a tiger, thinking this would get him out of being called cheeky!
“It has warmed our hearts to hear from so many of the people we know that it was not just our little family that felt he was special and how Dylan could light up a room.
“In this past year the emergency services have been at the forefront of our minds and working at capacity, we want to thank them, not only for their immense response and unrelenting effort to do everything possible to save our little boy, but for the genuine emotion and care displayed through their efforts.
“Our thanks to those individuals who gave everything they could to our family.
“Dylan simply loved life and he made our lives richer every day. He had a beautiful smile, and we loved his cheeky, happy-go-lucky zest for life.
“These words don’t even come close to describing what an amazing and special little boy Dylan was. Dylan touched the lives of so many people and brought so much light into the world of those who knew him.
“We will miss our beautiful boy forever and keep him close in our hearts always.
“He will forever be our hero, our world, our everything – our Dylan.”