The family of a teenager who went missing in the River Mersey have said “our worst fear is that this tragic accident has taken our lovely boy from us”.
Daniel Halliday, 14, had been jumping waves with his older brother near Crosby beach when he got into trouble, his family said. His brother tried to help him but the current was too strong.
Emergency services were called on Sunday evening to the spot where Daniel was last seen in the water with a group of friends.
Merseyside police said on Sunday that the rest of the group came out of the river and had become separated from Daniel.
A coastguard helicopter and lifeboats from the RNLI joined the search along with fire and rescue and ambulance personnel, but efforts were stood down on Monday morning.
The family said: “Our worst fear is that this tragic accident has taken our lovely boy from us. Daniel was jumping waves with his big brother who tried to save him but the current was too strong.
“Daniel is a loving son, brother, cousin, nephew and grandson. The family are all devastated and we hope that we will be allowed our privacy at this time.”
The coastguard said at 10am on Monday that it had discontinued the 15-hour search “pending further information”. Lifeboats had been launched at 5.15am and 5.30am from New Brighton and Lytham St Annes.
An area of the beach close to the Seaforth radar tower was cordoned off while the search was ongoing and members of the public were turned away from the area.
Crosby beach is home to Antony Gormley’s Another Place installation, consisting of 100 cast-iron figures dotted along the shoreline and in the water, facing out to sea.
