The family of a four-year-old boy found dead in a pond said they were 'truly broken' as they paid touching tribute to a 'beautiful, happy and healthy little boy'.
An inquest into the death of Ifan Owen-Jones has now been opened and adjourned. The tragedy has rocked the village of Crymych in north east Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Ifan, the inquest opening heard, had been playing in a sand pit near his family home when he went missing on August 7. After emergency services were called, he was found in a pond and declared dead shortly afterwards, it was said.
An inquest hearing into his death took place on Friday morning, reports Wales Online.
His family said in a statement: "Ifan was a beautiful, happy, healthy little boy. He had his struggles with some things due to being autistic but he was amazing at other things.
"He loved the alphabet, counting and colours. He would watch Fireman Sam over and over. He loved climbing on anything he could find. His iPad (diamond) was his safety blanket, it went everywhere with him.
"Everyone who met Ifan fell in love with him, everyone adored him. He was and always will be our special little boy. We are so lost without him, Ifan was our world. We are all truly broken.
"We as a family are truly overwhelmed with the support, kindness and generosity we have received from our family, friends, local community and even people we don’t even know. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
Gareth Lewis, assistant coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, officially opened an inquest into his death. Coroner's officer Hayley Rogers said police received a call from the Welsh Ambulance Service at roughly 5.30pm on August 7 to attend a property in Blaenffos.
She said: “It was established that Ifan had been heard playing in a sand pit close to the family home. When Ifan could not be seen, a search of the grounds ensued and he was found unresponsive in a natural pond.
"Despite best efforts to resuscitate him, he was declared deceased at 8.40pm. Police have launched a full investigation, with ongoing enquiries.”
Ifan's loved ones have raised thousands of pounds to help pay for funeral costs. In less than two weeks, more than £6,000 has been raised. The organiser of the Gofundme page said: "Thanks for all the support already given. We as a family are eternally thankful."
Read more of today's top stories here.
- The hidden health issue that can take years off city centre residents' lives
- Life on the estate next to Manchester Airport where passengers block drives and cowboys dump cars
- What the strike which changed Britain meant for our miners - and what it says about the 'summer of discontent'
- Fear on the streets where homes leak energy faster than anywhere else
- "My mate took his own life and for years I blamed myself"
