Police have launched an investigation after a six-year-old boy was critically injured when he was struck by a speedboat near Carlingford Lough in Co Down.
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Stuart Wilson was on a wake-board being towed by another boat when the accident happened at Cranfield Bay near Kilkeel, just before 5pm on Monday.
It is understood another speedboat took off and hit the youngster, leaving him with serious head injuries.
In a statement released on behalf of the Wilson family, Reverend David Somerville said:
"The family of Stuart Wilson, aged six years old, say that he remains critically ill. They would like to thank people for their support and prayers but appeal for privacy at this difficult time. They ask everyone to continue to pray for Stuart."
Stuart was given first aid on Cranfield Beach by a doctor and an off-duty nurse before being rushed to Daisy Hill hospital in Newry by ambulance. He was later transferred to the Royal Victoria in Belfast.
Stuart had been spending the summer holidays in the area with his family in a caravan.
"We don't know the ins and outs of it but what we do know is that the young boy is critical," Rob Stevenson from the Belfast Coastguard told UTV.
"The young lad had been wake-boarding on the back of another speedboat by the looks of it when a speedboat launched and hit him.
"At about 5.15pm yesterday we received a telephone call from the ambulance service requesting assistance with a six-year-old boy who had been struck by a vessel at Cranfield Bay."
Mr Stevenson from the coastguard added that boat users at the beach should take precautions before they go out on the water.
"When going to the beach, check the tide and the weather and if you're going on a boat wear a life-jacket and be safe," he said.
UUP MLA John McAllister, who knows the family, told UTV Stuart is the youngest of four children.
"He is a typical young boy of that age enjoying and just full of life, and enjoying Cranfield and getting into the water and today we're very much keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers and keeping them close to us at this most difficult of times," he said.
Cranfield is one of few beaches in Northern Ireland which has a prestigious blue flag award.
The Newry and Mourne Council control one half of the beach which includes an exclusion zone for boats and jet skis. But the spot where the accident happened is not controlled by the council.
"From a council perspective we do enforce very riguously the exclusion zone and we have our lifeguards who are trained in first aid and maritime safety procedures", UKIP Councillor Henry Reilly told UTV.
"They do an excellent job but we can only do it in the small piece of beach that we control."
SDLP leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie offered her thoughts and prayers to the family.
"This must be a truly horrific time for the parents and close family and friends of the young boy and I would like to offer my thoughts and prayers and those of the people I represent to them", she said.
"We all wish the young boy makes a quick and full recovery."
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward.
© UTV News