Tributes paid to weir tragedy pair

May 13 2012

Tributes have poured in for a "really lovely" father and son who died when their boat capsized at a weir on the River Avon.

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

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

Neighbours said Mr Mynott and his wife Emma, 41, who was not on board the boat, have two other children, Florence and Archie.

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

Father and son were pronounced dead at the scene.

As news of the tragedy sunk in, friends and neighbours of the family in the close-knit picturesque village paid tribute to them.

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

She said she was struggling to come to terms with what had happened and she could only imagine what "kind" Mrs Mynott was going through.

"My heart goes out to them," she said.

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