Kayden Fleck: Book of condolence opens at primary school

Image copyrightTHE FLECK FAMILY

Image captionKayden Fleck, pictured on the right, with his twin brother, Jayden

A book of condolence has opened at the school of a five-year-old boy who died after falling into a river in County Antrim.

Kayden Fleck was recovered from the Braid River, Ballymena, on Saturday afternoon in a major multi-agency rescue operation.

He was airlifted to hospital in Belfast, where he later died.

Image captionThe principal said there will be support for grieving pupils and staff when the school reopens after the holidays

The principal of Harryville Primary School, Lesley Meikle, told BBC News NI that staff are "in shock" at the news.

• Parents pay tribute to "happy-go-lucky" son

The school posted on facebook that a book of condolence would be available to be signed from 12:00 GMT on Monday.

'Lovely wee chatterbox'

Kayden Fleck travelled more than 6 km (four miles) along the river from the point where he entered the water to the point where he was pulled out.

Head teacher, Ms Meikle, described Kayden and his twin brother, Jayden, as "real wee bubbly characters".

"He was a lovely wee chatterbox," she said.

"The boys just bounced around, just like typical wee boys."

Image copyrightFLECK FAMILY

Image captionKayden was a pupil at Harryville Primary School in Ballymena

She said that a lasting memory will be of Kayden dressed up as a superhero, along with the rest of the class, to mark their last school day before the half-term holidays on Friday.

Ms Meikle said it was something "lovely" to remember of something "so tragic".

The principal said support for grieving pupils and staff will be made available when the school reopens after the holidays.

"It's hard to know what exactly we are going to do, but we will just get together," said Lesley Meikle.

Image captionPolice, firefighters, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and Community Rescue Service volunteers were involved in Saturday's operation

"We are a big school family and support in any manner we can.

"I don't think it has really sunk home for everybody, and probably won't until we see his empty desk.

"It is just a very difficult time."