The distraught mother of a young boy swept to his death by a huge wave had to be restrained from going into the sea after her son.
Jadwiga Cieraszewska tried desperately to grab hold of Eryk before a second wave pulled him out of her reach.
The 27-year-old, who also had six-year-old daughter Oliwia with her, had to be stopped from plunging into the stormy water off Kirkcaldy Esplanade by members of the public, who warned her she would also be drowned.
Three-year-old Eryk was then swept 60 feet out to sea and died, despite a massive rescue operation.
The full horror of what happened on Saturday afternoon has started to emerge, as questions are raised about safety at the waterfront.
Contrary to initial reports, Eryk had not been sitting on the sea wall but was splashing in puddles with his sister on the walkway as waves broke around them.
It is believed Jadwiga had taken the pair there after recovering from a fright when Eryk went missing during a shopping trip to Tesco and was found safe and well by police.
On reaching the seafront, she was taking photographs but as they passed a gap in the wall, a huge wave knocked the toddler off his feet and pulled him backwards and down a flight of stairs leading to the beach.
His desperate mother, who moved to the Fife town from Poland and is separated from the children’s father, tried to reach him but a second wave swept him out to sea.
One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said Jadwiga was ”absolutely frantic” and added: ”Several people stopped her from going into the water. A guy threw in a life ring but the boy was already unresponsive and there was a feeling of futility.
”Every second felt like an eternity.”
The witness added: ”The wee girl was also terrified and was in a terrible state. My wife and I were holding her and all she could say in English was ‘oh my goodness’ over and over again.
”Everybody did what was in their limited powers. Everybody tried to help but it was just hopeless.”
Firefighters were on the scene within 90 seconds, with one officer wading out to the boy while attached to a safety line. He reached Eryk at the same time as the Kinghorn coastguard boat and the youngster was pulled aboard, just five minutes after he fell in.
But it was too late to save him and he was pronounced dead at Victoria Hospital an hour and a half later.
Father Edward Wanat gave Eryk the last rites and said prayers with his distraught family.
He said: ”She was crying. Tears speak louder than any words.”
Continued…
Jadwiga has paid tribute to her son in a short statement issued through police, saying: ”Eryk will be sadly missed by all the family. We will never forget him.”
He had started nursery at Kirkcaldy North Primary School in August, and headteacher Carolyn McFarlane described him as ”such a happy child”.
She said: ”It was a pleasure to have him in the nursery. We’re so saddened to hear of this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Eryk’s family at this time and we will offer them any support we can.”
Dozens of bouquets have been left at the scene of the tragedy along with teddies, candles and Thomas the Tank Engine comics.
Kirkcaldy councillor Judy Hamilton was one of those who left flowers with a note saying: ”So sorry for this terrible tragedy. Nature is so cruel.”
Another laid by the Dougall family said: ”To the world he was just someone, but to someone he was the world.”
One note said Eryk would be ”safe with angels”, but added: ”Get this wall higher Fife Council. Now.”
Others have also called either for the gaps in the wall to be closed or better signs warning of the dangers of the sea during high tide.
Built during the depression of the 1920s, a report three years ago concluded the wall had a residual life of less than five years and was in danger of breaching in three places.
A multi-million-pound upgrade will begin next year to prevent the sea from coming over it.
The work will include rocks placed behind the wall at a 45-degree angle to take the brunt of the waves before they reach the Esplanade.
The tide on Saturday was one of the highest of the year and ferocious waves were crashing over the wall on to the walkway where dozens of children were playing.
Local MSP David Torrance said: ”I think there should be better warnings. Until the new sea wall is in place I think the council should put more warning signs up about the dangers, especially at high tide.”
He added: ”These kind of huge waves only occur when the tide is high and it was a very high tide on Saturday afternoon. This was a real tragedy and my sympathies go out to the family.”
Kirkcaldy area committee chairwoman Councillor Alice Soper agreed, adding: ”It may be we need to put some warning signs up. One tragedy is one too many so maybe large warning signs at two to three spots along the Esplanade would be an idea.
”We need to make sure everybody realises the power of the sea.”
Bob McCallum, head of Fife Council’s transport and environmental services department, said Eryk’s death appeared to be a freak accident.
He said: ”This is a real tragedy and on behalf of Fife Council I extend my deepest condolences to the family. It appears to be a freak accident, the like of which we have never seen before in Kirkcaldy.”
There are 14 lifebelts at Kirkcaldy Esplanade which are inspected weekly. There are five pairs of pedestrian access points to and from the beach and three vehicular access points.
Fife Council said these accesses are essential to allow people to enter and exit from the beach in normal and emergency circumstances.
Jadwiga has paid tribute to her son in a short statement issued through police, saying: ”Eryk will be sadly missed by all the family. We will never forget him.”
He had started nursery at Kirkcaldy North Primary School in August, and headteacher Carolyn McFarlane described him as ”such a happy child”.
She said: ”It was a pleasure to have him in the nursery. We’re so saddened to hear of this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Eryk’s family at this time and we will offer them any support we can.”
Dozens of bouquets have been left at the scene of the tragedy along with teddies, candles and Thomas the Tank Engine comics.
Kirkcaldy councillor Judy Hamilton was one of those who left flowers with a note saying: ”So sorry for this terrible tragedy. Nature is so cruel.”
Another laid by the Dougall family said: ”To the world he was just someone, but to someone he was the world.”
One note said Eryk would be ”safe with angels”, but added: ”Get this wall higher Fife Council. Now.”
Others have also called either for the gaps in the wall to be closed or better signs warning of the dangers of the sea during high tide.
Built during the depression of the 1920s, a report three years ago concluded the wall had a residual life of less than five years and was in danger of breaching in three places.
A multi-million-pound upgrade will begin next year to prevent the sea from coming over it.
The work will include rocks placed behind the wall at a 45-degree angle to take the brunt of the waves before they reach the Esplanade.
The tide on Saturday was one of the highest of the year and ferocious waves were crashing over the wall on to the walkway where dozens of children were playing.
Local MSP David Torrance said: ”I think there should be better warnings. Until the new sea wall is in place I think the council should put more warning signs up about the dangers, especially at high tide.”
He added: ”These kind of huge waves only occur when the tide is high and it was a very high tide on Saturday afternoon. This was a real tragedy and my sympathies go out to the family.”
Kirkcaldy area committee chairwoman Councillor Alice Soper agreed, adding: ”It may be we need to put some warning signs up. One tragedy is one too many so maybe large warning signs at two to three spots along the Esplanade would be an idea.
”We need to make sure everybody realises the power of the sea.”
Bob McCallum, head of Fife Council’s transport and environmental services department, said Eryk’s death appeared to be a freak accident.
He said: ”This is a real tragedy and on behalf of Fife Council I extend my deepest condolences to the family. It appears to be a freak accident, the like of which we have never seen before in Kirkcaldy.”
There are 14 lifebelts at Kirkcaldy Esplanade which are inspected weekly. There are five pairs of pedestrian access points to and from the beach and three vehicular access points.
Fife Council said these accesses are essential to allow people to enter and exit from the beach in normal and emergency circumstances.