A prayer vigil has been held for six-year-old Stuart Wilson who died in hospital after being hit by a boat at Cranfield beach in Co Down.
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The youngest of four children, he had been spending the summer holidays in the area with his family when the tragic accident occurred.
The child suffered serious head injuries after being hit by the speedboat while wakeboarding on Monday afternoon.
He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in Thursday afternoon, a police spokeswoman confirmed.
UUP MLA John McAllister, who knows the family, told UTV there was a "tremendous sense of numbness and sadness around the district" following the Iveagh primary pupil's death.
He added: "It's so, so sad to think of such a young life ending in such an awful tragedy."
SDLP Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said the local community's worst fears had been realised.
"Words are very difficult to come by when something like this happens and I'm sure no words are consolation to the loving family and close friends - but on behalf of those I represent who I know have been praying and hoping for a better outcome, I would like to offer my deepest and most sincere sympathies," she said.
Prayers were said at the family's church in Rathfriland on Thursday night, although Stuart's parents did not attend the special vigil.
Church of Ireland minister Rev David Somerville told UTV it was every parent's "worst nightmare".
He added that Stuart was "a lovely wee lad", who was the "life and soul of the party".
He said: "If there was fun going on, Stuart was right in the middle of it and you couldn't help notice him - in a very positive way."
Cranfield is one of few beaches in Northern Ireland which has a prestigious blue flag award.
Newry and Mourne Council controls 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.
Police investigating the accident have said enquiries are ongoing and officers have appealed for anyone who witnessed what happened to come forward.
© UTV News