Horror as boy, 2, drowns in pond Aug 23 2004 By Emyr Williams, Daily Post

THE parents of a North Wales toddler who drowned in a duck pond have paid tribute to their much-loved son.
Phillip and Tracey Marsden said two-year-old Matthew would be "missed very much by everyone who knew him".
The little boy died while on holiday with his parents and one-year-old brother Alex at Greenacres Holiday Park, Morfa Bychan, near Porthmadog.
It is believed Matthew wandered off from his parents, who raised the alarm, shortly before 10am on Saturday.
He was quickly found in the pond about 100 yards away from their tourer.
Only last September a four-year-old boy was rescued from one of Green-acres three ponds after he went into the water to play with the ducks.
Health and Safety officials are due to hold talks with the caravan park owners this week.
IT Manager Mr Marsden (From Liverpool), his wife, who works at a bank call centre, and baby Alex were last night being comforted by relatives at their home in Cwrt Brenig, Buckley.
In a brief but moving statement they said: "Matthew was a happy and healthy child.
"He was loved very much and will be missed very much by everyone who knew him."
Matthew's grandfather said: "This is really hard for his parents. He was only two. The whole family are devastated by what has happened."
The Marsdens arrived at the Greenacres Caravan Park in their touring caravan on Wednesday.
Last night it was unclear exactly who discovered the youngster in the pond.
But a member of staff who tried to resuscitate Matthew found the little boy in his father's arms
The employee was helped by an off-duty firefighter who was staying at the site, North Wales' largest caravan park, until paramedics arrived.
Matthew was flown by air ambulance to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, but was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Mason, from Cheshire, was staying in a static caravan close to the pond.
He was the first to telephone the emergency services after he heard someone shouting outside.
"The first I knew of the incident was when I saw a man walking out of the duck pond with a young child in his arms," said Mr Mason.
"He laid him down on the grass next to our caravan and I immediately telephoned the emergency services.
"An ambulance was soon at the scene followed soon after by the air ambulance.
"Paramedics did their best to resuscitate the boy and I believe he was still unconscious when he wasplaced in the air ambulance. "This is a terrible tragedy and we are all very shocked realising how the youngster had wandered away from his parents, walking into the duck pond which is only protected by a very low timber barrier."
Another holidaymaker, who asked not to be named, said: "We were surprised to see how low the timber barrier around the pond really is, serving no purpose at all if a child decided to wander into the water, as appeared to have happened on this occasion.
"It is all very well putting up signs at the edge stating that all children must be accompanied by an adult. But, in all fairness, a two-year-old boy cannot read signs."
The Marsdens' neighbour Matthew Evans, 31, described Matthew as a "lovely little boy".
"He has a little set of goalposts in the back garden and was always out-side playing."
A spokesman for the British Holidays-owned Greenacres resort said: "Everyone, staff and guests, are devastated by this tragic accident.
"Our hearts and prayers are with the family.
"As soon as we were told that the little boy had wandered off we alerted our staff. Within minutes the boy was spotted floating in the duck pond."
The spokesman confirmed a meeting was due to take place later this week with health and safety officials. "Following last September's incident involving a young boy rescued from one of the duck ponds, a meeting was held between ourselves, the Health and Safety Executive and the local authority, leading to a risk assessment being undertaken.
"Certain recommendations were made and an action plan implemented to everyone's satisfaction.
"Arrangements have now been made to hold a further meeting with the Health and Safety Executive this week to discuss this latest incident.
"As far as the three duck ponds are concerned they are part of the landscaping scheme submitted as part of the planning consent granted for this part of the site, taking into account the need to be environmentally friendly in terms of wildlife."
Greenacres Holiday Park has 1,000 pitches for mainly static caravans and chalets.
A spokeswoman for North Wales police last night said the coroner had been informed of Matthew's death.
* Last September the Daily Post reported how Greenacres' site warden and gardener John Owen, 45, plucked four-year-old Jordan Mason to safety after he wandered into a duck pond.
Jordan's parents Ronnie and Hazel Mason, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, were staying in a caravan 20 yards from the duck pond.

So many people knew of the dangers yet did nothing!!!

How can you sleep at night!