''There's a lot of shock and sadness in the area at the moment.''
The death of a six-year-old boy in Co. Mayo yesterday is being treated as a tragic accident.
Local child Louis Chen was found in a stream close to his home in Rehins Fort, Ballina, yesterday afternoon.
He was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later, and a post mortem examination is due to take place.
Local councillor Mark Duffy said the area is in shock.
''It's tragic news for the family and the whole community, Mr. Duffy explained.
''The family have lost their boy and the community have lost a young child, taken far too soon.
''There's a lot of shock and sadness in the area at the moment.''
"Shortly after 1pm, gardaí received reports that a six-year-old boy had gone missing from his home at Rehins Fort, Ballina," a garda spokesperson explained.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital in Castlebar where he was pronounced dead, the spokesperson added.
