Weir Tragedy: Tributes Paid To Father And Son

Tributes have been paid to a "really lovely" father and son who died when their boat overturned at a weir on the River Avon.

The father, named locally as Julian Mynott, 42, was enjoying an afternoon on the water with his three-year-old son Freddie and two other children when tragedy struck.

Mr Mynott's sister Stephanie Skudder described him as the "best father, husband, son and brother".

She told the Daily Mail: "My sister-in-law is going through hell... it's an absolute tragedy.

"Julian loved his kids and he was the best father in the world. He would not have left the river until the found his son."

It is thought their small motorised boat went over a three-metre high weir and capsized in the river close to the family home in Barford, near Warwick.

Freddie was pulled from the water at about 8.30pm on Saturday and Mr Mynott was found shortly after 10pm. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The two other children are being treated in hospital. One is described as being in a serious but stable condition.

Neighbours and friends spoke warmly of Mr Mynott and his wife Emma, 41, and said they were thinking of them and their two other children, Florence and Archie.

Polly Bonner-Evans, who lives close to the family, said: "They were just really lovely people.

"I wish we could just scoop them up and wrap them in our arms and do whatever we could."

Freddie had only just turned three, Ms Bonner-Evans said, and a party been held for him at the family home, which his parents had bought around a year ago.

A steady stream of people have been visiting the village bridge that runs over the river to leave cards and flowers.

One card left among the bouquets read: "Julian and Freddie, you will be deeply missed by all.

"So many tears will be shed for you both. Angels are watching over you now!

"Will miss you Freds. All my love and hugs. Emmie (Barford Nursery)."

Charles Barlow, who lives in Barford, said: "As kids we used to canoe up and down the river with Scouts, so if ever the river was the way it is now we wouldn't go anywhere near the weir.

"There's two weirs - there's, if you like, the main weir, which is where the mill was and that's sheer, and that's what I think they've gone over.

"I think there's a step at the bottom of it so if they've hit the step I would have thought any boat would have been in trouble."

Locals said Mr Mynott, an antiques dealer, appeared to be making his way home with his children when the current pulled the boat.

People living close to the scene of the accident tried to take their own boats onto the river to help but were forced back by the strength of the current, Ms Bonner-Evans said.