Boy, three, dies in pond accident

Freddie Watmough was found in a neighbour's pond

A three-year-old boy who was found face down in a neighbour's garden pond was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Freddie Watmough was discovered after a search by police who were called after he disappeared from a house in Victoria Mews, Dover, Kent on Saturday.

An officer carried out emergency first aid and Freddie was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where he was pronounced dead.

A police spokesman said the boy's death was not being treated as suspicious.

Freddie's mother, Leanne Beardmore, father Philip Watmough and big sister Trinity said in a statement: "There are no words to describe how we are feeling.

"We can't even begin to imagine life without our little man.

"We love and miss him so, so much and would give anything to hear him, see him and feel him again."

'Eternally grateful'

Edward Sedgwick, who lives in Victoria Street, said the boy's family frantically searched the neighbourhood after he went missing.

"A helicopter turned up shortly after that and we heard about an hour later that the child had died," said Mr Sedgwick.

Freddie was found in Shaun King's pond in Erith Street.

Mr King, who is in his 40s, rushed to pull the child out of the water as desperate attempts began to resuscitate the toddler.

Mr King's daughter Shelly, 22, said: "The policeman was in the garden and my dad went out to ask him what was the matter and he said he was looking for a little boy that had gone missing.

"My dad just instantly thought of the pond.

"He ran over to the pond, that's where he found the little boy and he pulled him out and passed him to the policeman. Then my brother called an ambulance."

The Watmough family said they wanted to thank everyone who tried to save Freddie.

"They tried so hard and for that we will be eternally grateful," they said.

"Freddie will live on in our hearts and minds, inspiring us to be the parents he would have wanted us to be.

"Freddie lived for climbing, any object was seen as just another obstacle to be conquered, with determination.

"We can't believe he was taken from us so suddenly and in such a tragic way."