Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
5-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES IN ULSTER RIVER TRAGEDY
A BOY aged five died after falling into a river and being swept four miles downstream yesterday.
Kayden McGowan plunged into the River Braid in Ballymena, Co Antrim, at around 1pm. Emergency services were alerted with police helicopters and vehicles launching a massive search operation within minutes.
The child was rescued from the river at 3pm some four miles away and flown by air ambulance to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where he sadly died.
In a statement, Harryville Primary
School confirmed the tragic news. They said: “Please remember the McGowan family in your thoughts and prayers at this very sad time as they mourn the loss of wee Kayden.
“The whole school community is remembering you at this sad time.”
Crews from the Fire and Rescue Service and the Community Rescue Service were involved in the operation which began at the Ecos Centre, a nearby nature park.
It is understood the river’s current carried the boy for several miles before he was rescued from the freezing water near the Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
An ambulance spokesman said: “The thoughts of all involved in the rescue are with the young boy and his family.”
Police confirmed in a statement: “A young child pulled from the Braid River in Ballymena earlier today has passed away in hospital.” Inspector Shaf Ali added: “I would like to thank everyone involved in the search effort.”