Police name toddler who drowned in garden pond at family home

The 23-month-old infant wandered off from his mother Lucy Herd on Friday afternoon at their large detached home in Stank, Cumbria.

Shortly after 5pm, Ms Herd discovered her son unconscious and sought help from neighbours who tried to resuscitate him.

He was taken to Furness General Hospital in Barrow, where he was pronounced dead.

Yesterday, after Ms Herd's partner and Jack's father, Jason Barnes, returned home from working in the Gulf, the family issued a statement saying: "The family is devastated at the loss of our darling little boy.

"Jack made everybody laugh and brought smiles to the faces of everyone he met, even people he didn't know.

"They now request that they be left alone to grieve in peace."

The policeman leading the investigation, Det Chief Insp Jeff Ashton, said: "Our thoughts are very much with Jack's family at this time.

"The police investigation and a post mortem confirmed that this was a tragic accident and the coroner has been informed.

"I would like to pay a special tribute to the neighbours who, along with Jack's mother Lucy, tried in vain to resuscitate him."

Next-door neighbour Dorothy Norton yesterday paid tribute to Jack, saying: "He was a completely beautiful little boy. It's a really small village and everybody is absolutely devastated."