A GRANDMOTHER and her six-year-old grandson drowned whilst feeding ducks in what police believe was a “very tragic accident.”
Dawn Mullany, 71, of Castle Bytham, was looking after her grandson Laurence Mills over the half-term holidays when the double-tragedy occurred last Thursday night.
Police believe Mrs Mullany was taking Laurence home to Ketton in Rutland when she decided to stop off at a tranquil lake in picturesque Holywell to feed the ducks.
Both ended up in the water with officers believing one may have fell into the freezing lake with the other attempting to help.
Det Ch Insp Dave Wood of Lincolnshire Police said: “We believe that this is a tragic accident and we are working with the coroner at this time to understand exactly what has happened.
“At the moment we don’t have any witnesses to this incident. We are appealing for anyone travelling from Castle Bytham to Holywell who might have seen what happened or seen the car or the lady to come forward.”
RAF search and rescue helicopters were called in to assist in the search and heat-seeking devices were used during the search but they could not be saved.
Villagers in Castle Bytham described Mrs Mullany as a “lovely lady” and were shocked at the tragic events.
Paul Thurman, 65, of Pinfold Road, Castle Bytham, said: “She was a lovely, lovely lady. She was a private person but was always keen to say hello and it was quite a shock, especially in the circumstances.
“She lived on her own but she wasn’t a lonely lady by any means.”
Clerk of Castle Bytham Parish Council Muriel Cooke described the events as “shocking news for the village”.
An inquest into the deaths of Laurence Mills and Dawn Mullany was opened and adjourned at Stamford Town Hall on Thursday.