The two year-old girl swept out to sea with her parents as they fished from a holiday beach has now died, police said yesterday (wed).
Blonde-haired Mckayla (corr) Bruynius, whose father Rudy lost his life in the tragedy, passed away after a four-day battle.
Her dad, 33, was rescued from the water but declared dead shortly after the emergency at South Fistral Beach at Newquay, Cornwall last Friday.
His grieving widow Lisinda, 37, survived and yesterday paid tribute to her husband and their ‘happy, busy bee’ little daughter.
In a statement issued by police she said: “Rudy was a loving, caring and supportive husband, father and friend.
“He had a great sense of humour and was an active person. He always put other people first.
“Mckayla was a busy bee and always happy.
“I am in disbelief at what has happened. I am so shocked at how quickly the sea condition changed on that day whilst we were enjoying a family time together in Cornwall.
“I pray that others can learn from our tragedy as I do not wish for anybody to go through our grief.”
Lisinda added: “I would like to thank the RNLI, the staff at Royal Cornwall Hospital, the staff from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, the emergency services and all the members of public for their generous support and prayers they have given towards my family.
“I would especially like to thank the people of Cornwall for their messages of love and offers of help.
“I will never forget the close community spirit displayed towards us.
“Please respect our privacy at this really difficult time and allow my sons and I to try to come to terms with what has happened.”
The family of five from Morden, South London, were holidaying in Cornwall when tragedy struck around 5.20pm last Friday.
They were on rocks at South Fistral beach when Rudy, Lisinda and Mckayla were washed into the sea by a large wave.
Rudy and Lisinda were rescued from the water by RNLI lifeguards.
Lifeguards carried out CPR on Rudy before he was airlifted by the air ambulance to Treliske Hospital in Truro but died in hospital later that evening.
Mckayla was recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat before being flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
She was later transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital where she died on Tuesday night.
The family’s two sons managed to stay on the rocks and were located by the Coastguard. They sustained minor injuries before being taken by ambulance to Treliske.
Detective Constable Jarrod Yewen, from Newquay CID, said: “This is a tragic case for all those involved and our thoughts remain with the family at what is a deeply traumatic time for them.
“The deaths are not being investigated as suspicious therefore the police will now prepare a file for HM Coroner and an inquest will be held in due course.”
