This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19340785#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Dylan Cecil: Sonar to help in search | Dylan Cecil: Sonar to help in search |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Specialist sonar equipment is being used in an attempt to find the body of a boy missing off the Somerset coast. | |
| Dylan Cecil, four, fell from the jetty at Burnham-on-Sea on Sunday evening, prompting a large search operation. | Dylan Cecil, four, fell from the jetty at Burnham-on-Sea on Sunday evening, prompting a large search operation. |
| UK rescue organisation SARbot tested its equipment overnight and began scouring the water earlier. | |
| The charity, which is also using an underwater robot, says its sonar is more sensitive than those used by police. | |
| Duncan Winsbury, chief executive of SARbot, said: "We have developed the sonar at such a high frequency that it can actually see people under water. | Duncan Winsbury, chief executive of SARbot, said: "We have developed the sonar at such a high frequency that it can actually see people under water. |
| Converted sound waves | |
| "We're using a side-scan sonar. It sends out a beam of about 30 - 50m on each side so we can cover quite a big area. | "We're using a side-scan sonar. It sends out a beam of about 30 - 50m on each side so we can cover quite a big area. |
| "Depth and water clarity doesn't matter, because it's actually sound waves converted to a picture for us. | "Depth and water clarity doesn't matter, because it's actually sound waves converted to a picture for us. |
| "We have to draw on local knowledge in these areas, using the police, coastguard, RNLI and their knowledge of tides, such as where debris ends up and things like that. | "We have to draw on local knowledge in these areas, using the police, coastguard, RNLI and their knowledge of tides, such as where debris ends up and things like that. |
| "If they can place us in those areas the chances [of finding Dylan] are quite high." | |
| Dylan, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, had been staying in Burnham with his grandparents. | Dylan, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, had been staying in Burnham with his grandparents. |
| He fell into the sea when he and his parents were walking near the shore. | He fell into the sea when he and his parents were walking near the shore. |
| His mother and father jumped in to rescue him and had to be pulled to safety. | His mother and father jumped in to rescue him and had to be pulled to safety. |
| A huge search involving the coastguard, police and helicopters was mounted to rescue Dylan but the operation was called off on Monday. | A huge search involving the coastguard, police and helicopters was mounted to rescue Dylan but the operation was called off on Monday. |
| However, volunteers continued to scour the area on Tuesday. | However, volunteers continued to scour the area on Tuesday. |