FIVE years ago Burnham Coastguard were paged to a report of young child in the water.

The Cecil family were visiting grandparents in the area and decided to go for a trip to the beach.

Sadly while playing on the jetty, paddling in the shallow water four-year-old Dylan slipped and fell into the water.

His parents immediately tried to rescue him by jumping into the water and very nearly became victims of the current themselves.

The incoming tide was a high Spring tide which is not only high but when it comes in it does so very fast.

The currents around the jetty can be like being in a washing machine, and within seconds Dylan had been carried out to sea.

The Burnham Coastguard team undertook a full scale rescue incident, calling in every asset available to search.

Coastguard team members conducted tethered water searches, walking in waist deep water attached to a line.

Burnham and Weston Lifeboats were tasked to conduct search patterns, search and rescue helicopters and police helicopters conducted thermal image searches, and many members of the community came to assist in any way they could well into the night.

As the tide receded both Coastguard teams carried out searches along the side of the jetty but still to no avail.

By this time some of the team had been in and out of the water for nearly seven hours and the search was halted at around 2am.

Teams were asked to return around 4:30am ready for first light and to continue a shoreline search along the area.

Coastguard teams returned every day to continue the search until he was found down by the Yacht club on the August 23.

A spokesman from Burnham Coastguards said: "This was a dark time for the family, the team and the community as a whole.

"But from darkness comes light. The Cecil family wanted something positive to come from their tragedy.

"This came in the form of the Dylan Cecil Memorial Fund, a fantastic charity which was set up in 2014 in his name by members of the rescue teams that took part in the search for Dylan and his family."

The memorial fund uses the money raised to provide a holiday to those who who are in need, for reasons of ill health, disability, financially disadvantaged families in need of respite holidays.

Since 2014 it has helped six families including those of young carers, and earlier this year a terminally ill mother was able to take her children away and leave them with cherished memories before passing away.

The Burnham Coastguards spokesman said: "Every holiday provided gives the Cecil family some comfort that although gone, Dylan is not forgotten and that his passing has given hope, light and love to others which they will always remember.

"Everyone who was on service that day and the following days after will always remember and we send our thoughts to the family on this day and every day."

If you would like to get involved or donate to the Dylan Cecil Memorial fund, or if you know someone who should be nominated then contact dylancecilmemorialfund@gmail.com and find out more.