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Boy, 6, dies after farm incident | Boy, 6, dies after farm incident |
(39 minutes later) | |
Tributes have been paid to a six-year-old boy, who died in an agricultural incident in Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire. | |
He was named locally as Dafydd Bowen and villagers said his death had left a "wave of grief". His head teacher called him a "wonderful little boy". | |
A Christmas Eve midnight service at the Bethlehem chapel has been cancelled as a mark of respect. | |
Police and safety experts say the death, thought to involve a tractor, is not being treated as suspicious. | |
Dafydd's head teacher Sian Evans, of Llangadog Primary School, said he was a "wonderful little boy". | |
"Everybody got on with him and he got on with everybody else. He was one of these that you were lucky to have known him," she said. | |
I know he was happy in school but I also know his heart and his total enjoyment was back home on the farm Head teacher Sian Evans | |
"I remember his smile now - I can see his smile in front of my eyes as we speak. I'll never forget that." | |
She said Dafydd was happiest helping his family on the farm. | |
"I know he was happy in school but I also know his heart and his total enjoyment was back home on the farm working, helping his father looking after the animals," she said. | |
"I know that's where he enjoyed life to the full and I know that he had a wonderful childhood on that farm." | |
She added: "It's a dreadful tragedy that's happened and I don't know how his parents are coping. | |
"I know they're doing their best. I want them to know that the whole community is behind them in this." | |
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the accident had involved a tractor. | |
"The situation is so terrible and, of course, coming so close to Christmas just makes it worse," she said. | "The situation is so terrible and, of course, coming so close to Christmas just makes it worse," she said. |
'Happy little boy' | |
"I know that he was involved in some sort of accident with a tractor. His parents are inconsolable. | "I know that he was involved in some sort of accident with a tractor. His parents are inconsolable. |
"The community is in a very sad state. Everyone is thinking of the family. People have been phoning one another and talking about it." | "The community is in a very sad state. Everyone is thinking of the family. People have been phoning one another and talking about it." |
She said neighbours were rallying round with village youngsters taking over milking at the farm for the child's father. | She said neighbours were rallying round with village youngsters taking over milking at the farm for the child's father. |
"Of course, his mother will have organised everything for Christmas. Dafydd had two younger brothers, aged three and four," she said. | "Of course, his mother will have organised everything for Christmas. Dafydd had two younger brothers, aged three and four," she said. |
"It will be a terrible time for them but they will have to carry on for the other young children. | "It will be a terrible time for them but they will have to carry on for the other young children. |
"Dafydd was such a happy little boy. This is a small community and he was well known." | "Dafydd was such a happy little boy. This is a small community and he was well known." |
Local community and county councillor Huw Morgan said: "The feeling of the people of Llangadog this morning is very sad indeed. | |
"It's not going to be easy on the family, even the whole community feel this. | |
"The feeling with people, they're speechless. What can you say, it's a tragedy." | |
A Christmas Eve midnight service at Bethlehem Chapel has been cancelled as a mark of respect to the family. | A Christmas Eve midnight service at Bethlehem Chapel has been cancelled as a mark of respect to the family. |
"The family are regular chapel-goers, and the great uncle and aunt and the boy's grandparents were all expected to attend," she added. | "The family are regular chapel-goers, and the great uncle and aunt and the boy's grandparents were all expected to attend," she added. |
S4C said a recorded programme from the village, Seren Bethlehem, would be broadcast as planned on Thursday evening as a tribute to the boy, who features as part of a schools choir. | S4C said a recorded programme from the village, Seren Bethlehem, would be broadcast as planned on Thursday evening as a tribute to the boy, who features as part of a schools choir. |
Bethlehem has been featuring in a series on the village's preparations for its nativity play. | Bethlehem has been featuring in a series on the village's preparations for its nativity play. |
The broadcaster said his family had requested that the programme, which also features some of his relatives, should go ahead. | The broadcaster said his family had requested that the programme, which also features some of his relatives, should go ahead. |