THE family of a 16-year-old boy who died in a tragic tombstoning accident in Minehead have warned others not to make the same mistake.

They have joined with the police and coastguard to issue the warning after the body of Sam Stephen Boyd, of Minehead, was pulled from the harbour this morning.

The alarm was raised after Sam was spotted in trouble in the water at about 8pm yesterday.

A huge search and rescue operation was launched involving the coast guard, lifeboats, police divers, a police helicopter and even local fishing boats who volunteered to help.

He was found at 1.40am today in the harbour area, and pronounced dead a short time later at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

The accident happened as Sam was 'tombstoning' - a slang term given to the activity of jumping into water from cliffs, structures, harbour and dock walls, bridges into water.

Now Sam's family has issued a plea for young people to stop putting themselves in danger.

In a statement they said: "We ask that other young people do not put themselves in danger and learn from this tragedy by stopping swimming in the harbour area and where currents are strong and dangerous.

"We would like to thank everyone involved for all their efforts in such difficult conditions.

"We now wish there was something that could be done to prevent another child from dying like Sam did.

"We don't want another family to have to go through this."

Sam lived in Minehead with his mother and, two brothers and two sisters. He also has older siblings who no longer live in the area.

Sam had been staying with relatives on Thursday as his mother had been travelling back from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London where his brother was being treated.

His family were at the harbourside throughout the search and were close by when his body was found.

With fine weather forecast for the coming weekend police and HM Coastgaurd are urging people not go swimming in dangerous areas.

Fred Caygill, from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "This is an extremely dangerous practice and we cannot advise strongly enough against it.

"We would like to remind the public how dangerous 'tombstoning' is. It is very hard to judge the depth of water due to swell and sea conditions.

"Serious injuries often resulting in loss of life are often sustained when hitting the seabed or an underwater obstruction.

"We advise people to take care in the sea and not to take unnecessary risks.

"If you see anyone in trouble on the coast or at sea call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

The Minehead, Watchet and Porlock Coastguard Rescue Teams took part in the search.

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