SAFETY around our harbours and coast has been brought into sharp focus following the tragic death of Sam Boyd, the 16-year-old youngster who perished last week after entering Minehead Harbour fully clothed.
Louise Mundy, the mother of Sam Boyd, was adamant that Sam, 16, had not been tomb stoning' - jumping off the harbour wall into the seas - but had gone for a swim from steps at the harbour wall.
She said: "He had done it once in the past and scared himself, and on this occasion he went down the steps and swam outwards because he knew he could not handle tomb stoning."
And she said despite reports to the contrary, Sam could swim.
She added: "Like most youngsters, he did not understand about the currents."
Some have called for measures to be taken to stop youngsters swimming in our harbours, but views were mixed when we asked people at Minehead harbour this week.
Minehead butcher and boatman Albert Hartgen said: "The kids are going to come onto the harbour no matter what is done to try and keep them away.
"Some nights there can be 30 to 40 kids jumping into the harbour on top of each other, and they are not supervised by their parents.
"It's got worse in the last ten years."
David Marshall, visiting Minehead from Stroud with wife Pauline, said: "Something should be done to make the harbour safer because it will happen again, but I can't see what.
"We've got two grandsons the same age as Sam, and boys will always do silly things."
Greg Knight, visiting Minehead from Essex with wife Clare, son Thomas, four, and daughter Lucy, seven, said: "You could erect barriers to try and make the harbour more secure, but that would spoil the look of the place.
"The kids will jump in whatever is done. The only solution would be to have a warden in attendance all the time. CCTV might help."
Noddy Heard, of Minehead, said: "There's nothing you can do to stop them jumping in. The Harbourmaster regularly tells them not to but all he gets is abuse.
"Watchet harbour is the same. The barriers there make no difference."
Marianne Alexandra, from Brussels, visiting relatives in Minehead, said: "Education is the key. Schools should make more of an effort to teach children about the dangers of the sea."
Barry Lenham, education officer for the Minehead Lifeboat Guild, said: "I've got three grandchildren, so the issue of safety is close to my heart."
As a Union Flag fluttered at half-mast on the harbour wall behind him in memory of Sam, Barry said: "Children have always jumped off harbour walls.
"I could not feel more sorry for Sam and his family, but I don't think it should be stopped. It's part of growing up. Sometimes tragedies happen but it's part of life."
Barry, who visits local schools regularly to push safety messages to children of all ages, added: "We can do our best to instil safety into the children, but some do not heed what they are told."
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