A six-year-old boy has died after being found in a stream close to his home in Ballina, Co Mayo.
The child was brought to Mayo University Hospital after gardaí took him from the water at the back of Childers Heights but he was later pronounced dead.
It is understood the boy, who lived at Rath Glas, Rehins Fort, with his family, wandered off early this afternoon and was reported missing a few minutes later.
Gardaí from Ballina station, along with local residents, went in search of the child along the banks of the River Moy at the back of his housing estate and found him in a stream leading into the river.
He was taken from the water and CPR commenced until the ambulance service arrived at the scene.
Paramedics and medical staff continued to work on the child for a lengthy period before he was pronounced dead this evening.
It is understood the youngster is the son of a business family in the town.
Locals, who learned of the search through a residents' phone chat group, spoke of their shock at the tragedy and offered their deepest sympathies to the grieving family.
