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| Child dies on family river trip | Child dies on family river trip |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A nine-year-old boy has died after he disappeared while snorkelling in a river with his father and two brothers. | A nine-year-old boy has died after he disappeared while snorkelling in a river with his father and two brothers. |
| Jordan Paul Baker was in the River Dee near his home in Connah's Quay in Flintshire, when he disappeared at around 1500 BST on Sunday afternoon. | |
| He was found after a three-hour search involving underwater teams and rescue helicopters, but later pronounced dead. | He was found after a three-hour search involving underwater teams and rescue helicopters, but later pronounced dead. |
| A councillor called for warning signs in the area, while coastguards spoke of the dangers of swimming in cold water. | A councillor called for warning signs in the area, while coastguards spoke of the dangers of swimming in cold water. |
| The coroner's office confirmed Jordan's details and said an inquest may be opened later today. | The coroner's office confirmed Jordan's details and said an inquest may be opened later today. |
| Paul Parkes - the duty watch manager at Liverpool Coastguard who co-ordinated the search - said they were initially alerted to three people being in difficulties in the water, but when rescuers arrived there were two boys on the bank of the river. | Paul Parkes - the duty watch manager at Liverpool Coastguard who co-ordinated the search - said they were initially alerted to three people being in difficulties in the water, but when rescuers arrived there were two boys on the bank of the river. |
| The boy was discovered several hours after he went missing | The boy was discovered several hours after he went missing |
| "At that time one boy was still missing and hadn't been seen since he disappeared under the water," he said. | "At that time one boy was still missing and hadn't been seen since he disappeared under the water," he said. |
| The river current was running in the direction of Chester at the time and there was a possibility that it had taken the child that way, he explained. | The river current was running in the direction of Chester at the time and there was a possibility that it had taken the child that way, he explained. |
| Nicholas Brown from Connah's Quay, was out for a Sunday afternoon walk with his wife when he jumped into the river after seeing a child in difficulty shortly before the emergency services arrived. | Nicholas Brown from Connah's Quay, was out for a Sunday afternoon walk with his wife when he jumped into the river after seeing a child in difficulty shortly before the emergency services arrived. |
| He described how he swam out and grabbed one boy struggling in the river, but was too exhausted to swim back out again. | He described how he swam out and grabbed one boy struggling in the river, but was too exhausted to swim back out again. |
| 'Treacherous' | 'Treacherous' |
| "I just sat on the edge of a grass verge and my wife said 'It doesn't look right this. These little children are screaming for help' | "I just sat on the edge of a grass verge and my wife said 'It doesn't look right this. These little children are screaming for help' |
| "So I run down the beach, had a look and I could see them bobbing in and out of the water, so I shouted over 'Do you need help?' and the little boy screamed 'Please'. | "So I run down the beach, had a look and I could see them bobbing in and out of the water, so I shouted over 'Do you need help?' and the little boy screamed 'Please'. |
| "I just took my trainers and shorts off, jumped in, swum across (and) started struggling with the current myself but managed to get hold of one of the children, made it back to the bank, watched the other young lad actually disappear, went to try to go back in but just had no strength," he said. | "I just took my trainers and shorts off, jumped in, swum across (and) started struggling with the current myself but managed to get hold of one of the children, made it back to the bank, watched the other young lad actually disappear, went to try to go back in but just had no strength," he said. |
| "The current had took it out of me and I couldn't do no more." | "The current had took it out of me and I couldn't do no more." |
| Mr Brown said he also saw a man in the water - believed to be the boys' father - being rescued by another man. | Mr Brown said he also saw a man in the water - believed to be the boys' father - being rescued by another man. |
| A second child was also pulled from the water. | A second child was also pulled from the water. |
| Councillor Aaron Shotton, who represents the area where the boy lived, and knows his family, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and people here are in shock. | Councillor Aaron Shotton, who represents the area where the boy lived, and knows his family, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and people here are in shock. |
| "It raises the issue of whether there were adequate warning signs in the area and who is responsible for them. I didn't see any signs and I will be taking this matter up with Flintshire county council and the Environment Agency." | "It raises the issue of whether there were adequate warning signs in the area and who is responsible for them. I didn't see any signs and I will be taking this matter up with Flintshire county council and the Environment Agency." |
| Cllr Shotton said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of what he called a "very dangerous river." | Cllr Shotton said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of what he called a "very dangerous river." |
| He added: "Local people have always known the dangers. There were a lot of drownings in the 1950s and 60s and that's why Connah's Quay baths was built - to keep people away from the river." | He added: "Local people have always known the dangers. There were a lot of drownings in the 1950s and 60s and that's why Connah's Quay baths was built - to keep people away from the river." |
| The RNLI, fire service, ambulance, the north west regional underwater research team and an RAF rescue helicopter from Valley on Anglesey, took part in the rescue operation. | The RNLI, fire service, ambulance, the north west regional underwater research team and an RAF rescue helicopter from Valley on Anglesey, took part in the rescue operation. |
| Mr Parkes described the River Dee as "treacherous" and said the river's current can run very fast. | Mr Parkes described the River Dee as "treacherous" and said the river's current can run very fast. |
| "Water is very cold even at this time of the year and it will catch you out," he said. | "Water is very cold even at this time of the year and it will catch you out," he said. |
| "It's very sad for all of us who were involved in the operation, it's a tragedy." | "It's very sad for all of us who were involved in the operation, it's a tragedy." |