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| Family tribute to river death boy | Family tribute to river death boy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The death of a nine-year-old boy in a Snowdonia river has left an "unfillable gap", his family have said. | |
| Sean Laxen, from Norwich, was swept away after falling near the Conwy Falls at Betws-y-Coed on Monday while walking with his mother and brother. | Sean Laxen, from Norwich, was swept away after falling near the Conwy Falls at Betws-y-Coed on Monday while walking with his mother and brother. |
| A family tribute called him "a happy, playful and adoring child", who had used all his holiday money to buy a toy train for his younger brother Scott. | A family tribute called him "a happy, playful and adoring child", who had used all his holiday money to buy a toy train for his younger brother Scott. |
| They also thanked all the rescue teams who took part in the search. | They also thanked all the rescue teams who took part in the search. |
| Rescue teams found Sean's body at about 1810 BST on Tuesday in a deep pool close to where he had disappeared. | Rescue teams found Sean's body at about 1810 BST on Tuesday in a deep pool close to where he had disappeared. |
| Although Sean has tragically left us he has given us nine of the most wonderful years Family statement | Although Sean has tragically left us he has given us nine of the most wonderful years Family statement |
| A post mortem examination will be carried out on Thursday, after which an inquest will be opened and adjourned. | A post mortem examination will be carried out on Thursday, after which an inquest will be opened and adjourned. |
| A statement from the family said Sean, with his brother, enjoyed beaches in Norfolk, countryside walks, cycle rides and nature, as well as steam trains, aeroplanes and dinosaurs. | A statement from the family said Sean, with his brother, enjoyed beaches in Norfolk, countryside walks, cycle rides and nature, as well as steam trains, aeroplanes and dinosaurs. |
| 'Incredibly upset' | 'Incredibly upset' |
| His parents Linda and Richard said: "Coming from Norfolk, both Sean and Scott had grown up with water and, as all children, were fascinated with it. | |
| "As parents, we constantly instilled the dangers and taught them to respect water." | |
| They added: "Although Sean has tragically left us he has given us nine of the most wonderful years parents and a brother could have ever wanted, leaving us with treasured memories that will be with us forever." | They added: "Although Sean has tragically left us he has given us nine of the most wonderful years parents and a brother could have ever wanted, leaving us with treasured memories that will be with us forever." |
| The tribute said he had a "loving tendency" towards others and also loved dressing up, especially as Captain Hook and Harry Potter. | The tribute said he had a "loving tendency" towards others and also loved dressing up, especially as Captain Hook and Harry Potter. |
| "More recently a fascination of Sean's was the story of the Titanic, having seen parts of the movie," said the family. | "More recently a fascination of Sean's was the story of the Titanic, having seen parts of the movie," said the family. |
| "He was always questioning why it happened and was recently given a construction model by a church friend, which we were going to build when he was a little older. | "He was always questioning why it happened and was recently given a construction model by a church friend, which we were going to build when he was a little older. |
| Rescue teams had been searching for almost 27 hours | Rescue teams had been searching for almost 27 hours |
| "However, his summer compromise was a DIY wooden and plastic model made with his father and brother, whilst building a garden fence, which he was looking forward to painting." | "However, his summer compromise was a DIY wooden and plastic model made with his father and brother, whilst building a garden fence, which he was looking forward to painting." |
| The family also paid tribute to the search teams, although "their courageous efforts could not have brought him back to life". | |
| The search for Sean had continued for almost 27 hours and involved police divers, mountain rescue and firefighters among others. | The search for Sean had continued for almost 27 hours and involved police divers, mountain rescue and firefighters among others. |
| Supt Richard Brough of North Wales Police said it was very upsetting for the rescue teams who had worked so hard in the hope of achieving a positive outcome. | Supt Richard Brough of North Wales Police said it was very upsetting for the rescue teams who had worked so hard in the hope of achieving a positive outcome. |
| He said: "It's extremely distressing. It is the worst possible end." | He said: "It's extremely distressing. It is the worst possible end." |
| Ashley Best-White, acting head teacher at Horsford All Saints VC Middle School, where Sean was a pupil, said: "Everybody is just incredibly upset and shocked - the whole community in fact." | Ashley Best-White, acting head teacher at Horsford All Saints VC Middle School, where Sean was a pupil, said: "Everybody is just incredibly upset and shocked - the whole community in fact." |
| Sean and his family had been staying in a rented cottage in the area. | Sean and his family had been staying in a rented cottage in the area. |
| He had been walking along a footpath when he slipped 6ft and his mother and brother heard him fall into the water. | He had been walking along a footpath when he slipped 6ft and his mother and brother heard him fall into the water. |
| His mother alerted the emergency services at around 1515 BST on Monday and a massive search and rescue operation was launched involving around 40 people until the early hours of the following morning. | His mother alerted the emergency services at around 1515 BST on Monday and a massive search and rescue operation was launched involving around 40 people until the early hours of the following morning. |
| The search resumed on Tuesday along the banks of the river Conwy, which is believed to have been swollen and fast flowing following recent heavy rainfall. | The search resumed on Tuesday along the banks of the river Conwy, which is believed to have been swollen and fast flowing following recent heavy rainfall. |