A BOOK of condolence has been opened at the school of five-year-old Kayden Fleck who died after falling into a Co Antrim river.
The boy was swept more than five miles down the Braid river in Ballymena on Saturday afternoon before he was pulled from the freezing water in a major rescue operation.
He was airlifted to The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast but later died.
Kayden and his twin Jayden were yesterday described as "real wee bubbly characters" by Harryville Primary School principal Lesley Meikle.
"He (Kayden) was a lovely wee chatterbox," she said.
"The boys just bounced around, just like typical wee boys."
She said her lasting memory will be of Kayden dressed up as a superhero, along with the rest of his class, to mark the last day before the half-term holidays on Friday.
Ms Meikle said the school will support grieving pupils and staff.
"It's hard to know what exactly we are going to do, but we will just get together," she said.
"We are a big school family and support (each other) in any manner we can.
"I don't think it has really sunk home for everybody, and probably won't until we see his empty desk.
"It is just a very difficult time."
Both boys fell into the river at the Ecos Centre nature reserve near Skye Park in Ballymena at around 1pm on Saturday.
Jayden was rescued immediately, but his twin was swept away and pulled out more than 45 minutes later near Tullaghgarley.
The book of condolence was opened at noon yesterday.
The family's pastor, Thomas Todd from Ballykeel Pentecostal Church, said Kayden's parents, Leanne and Darrel want river paths close to housing areas to be made safer.
He said Jayden had been told about his twin's death.
"He and Kayden were very close to each other," he said.
"When you saw them, they were together. He has some understanding, but it's difficult to say at five years of age."
