'Tragedy' of boy killed by propeller

Falmouth coastguard was alerted by a nearby boat

The six-year-old boy who died after falling from a small family boat during a day out has been named.

Ross Morgan, from Playing Place in Truro, died on Saturday after suffering head injuries after being hit by the propeller.

He fell into the sea in the Fal Estuary off the Cornish coast, when the boat he was in swerved to avoid another vessel.

Ross was treated on Looe beach near Falmouth before being taken by air ambulance to the Royal Cornwall Hospital where he died.

'Serious condition'

In a statement, his family thanked emergency services who had tried to help the boy.

His uncle, Mark Richards, said: "The family are of course completely devastated by this terrible tragedy."

The accident happened when Ross, along with another child, and his father and grandfather, were on a fishing trip in the Carrick Roads stretch of water.

Falmouth coastguard spokeswoman Fiona Warren said: "The boy fell overboard and sustained serious head injuries.

"The father went in to help him and had a mobile phone in his pocket but couldn't use it, so he hailed down a nearby boat and they made contact with Falmouth coastguard.

"The air ambulance was on the scene within 10 minutes but the child was in a serious condition."

The Drascombe lugger involved in the incident was recovered by Falmouth Inshore lifeboat.