Two-Year-Old Girl Who Was Swept Into The Sea With Her Dad Dies

A two-year-old girl who was swept into the sea at Newquay with her father last week has died.

McKayla Bruynius died at Bristol Children's Hospital on Tuesday night.

She was caught by a large wave at Fistral beach in the Cornish resort while she was with her father last Friday.

Her father Rudy, aged 33, died that day.

It brings to seven the number of people killed in tragedies around the British coast during the weekend.

Devon and Cornwall Police have issued a statement from the little girl's mother. Lisinda.

In it she paid tribute to her husband and her daughter.


Lisinda Bruynius has paid tribute to her husband and daughter

"Rudy was a loving, caring and supportive husband, father and friend," she said.

"He had a great sense of humour and was an active person. He always put other people first. Mckayla was a busy bee and always happy.

"I am in disbelief at what has happened. I am so shocked at how quickly the sea condition changed on that day whilst we were enjoying a family time together in Cornwall.

"I pray that others can learn from our tragedy as I do not wish for anybody to go through our grief.

"I would like to thank the RNLI, the staff at Royal Cornwall Hospital, the staff from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, the emergency services and all the members of public for their generous support and prayers they have given towards my family.


The RNLI was called in to help with the rescue. Pic: Paul L Blatchford

"I would especially like to thank the people of Cornwall for their messages of love and offers of help.

"I will never forget the close community spirit displayed towards us.

"Please respect our privacy at this really difficult time and allow my sons and I to try to come to terms with what has happened."

Mrs Bruynius had also been swept into the sea and sustained minor injuries. Two other children in the family had managed to scramble onto rocks.

The family are from Croydon in south London, and were on holiday in the area. An appeal to help them has so far raised more than £32,000.

In the other coastal tragedies at the weekend:

:: Julie Walker and her son Lucas, six, drowned in the sea off Aberdeen

:: Joy Godfray died in hospital after being rescued from the sea off Jersey

:: A swimmer caught in rough seas off the coast of Dorset died

:: A windsurfer who got into trouble off the Essex coast drowned