The youngster drowned after falling into the River Stour while out on a fishing trip with his father and friends
The heartbroken parents of Lucas Dobson have spoken for the first time about how their ‘beautiful boy’ drowned after falling into a river.
The six-year-old’s body was found at the River Stour in Sandwich, Kent, last Wednesday (August 21) following an extensive five day search.
The schoolboy, from Deal, was swept away by the current during a fishing trip with his dad, KentLivereported.
His father, Nathan Dobson, fought back the tears as he spoke of the pain felt by him and Lucas’s mother, Kirsty Furze.
They say they will now campaign for greater safety on Britain’s waterways following his tragic death.
Nathan said in an interview with ITV: “There was adults right next to him and he just disappeared and never come back up.
“And it’s only since the tragedy you notice there’s only a few life rings, I haven’t noticed any signs to say how dangerous the undercurrents of the water is.
“I’ve seen children feeding ducks at the Quayside, a couple of feet away from the water.
“One simple slip or trip could end in something like this and we don’t want anyone else to go through it.
“You see how fast the water moves but you don’t realise how powerful it is.”
Nathan and two other adults immediately jumped in to save him – but the strong current swept the boy away.
One of Nathan’s friends, a strong swimmer, had to be pulled back in such was the strength of the current, Nathan explained.
Remaining silent by his side, Kirsty cried as Nathan thanked the public and the emergency services for their help in the search for Lucas.
He said: “All the emergency services were brilliant, they were there so fast.
“It was like something out of a movie scene.”
He added: “People were coming down from miles away, far away, just to come to this small town and look for our small, precious little boy.
“He was such a special boy.”
Kirsty said last week: “I’m Lucas’s mum and I just want to thank each and everyone one of you that I’m so thankful for donations and the food and being out all hours searching for my baby and for the police and rescue and search team.
“I cannot believe how much my baby has touched all your hearts.
“He was such a beautiful boy.“Lucas is looking down on everyone saying ‘thank you’ in his own way.
“Lucas will never ever ever be forgotten. I’m so overwhelmed with the support I have and had and so is Lucas’s dad.
“I really don’t know how else I could show my appreciation to you all.”
