Police have named a five-year-old boy who died in Oldham, Greater Manchester, on New Year’s Eve as Dylan Scanlon. A woman in her 30s has been detained under the Mental Health Act and police are investigating the death.
Dylan’s father, Gary Keenan, described him as his best friend, in a tribute on Facebook. He wrote: “To my Dylan I love you more than everything in this world you was my best friend and I’m really going to miss you son sweet dreams and we will meet again 1 day love you son.”
Greater Manchester police (GMP) said officers were called by the ambulance service at about 6.20pm on Friday 31 December. Dylan was pronounced dead at the scene.
The force has referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and its professional standards branch because of “previous police contact”.
DCI Alicia Smith, of GMP’s major incident team, said: “Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time and they are being supported by specialist officers. An investigation by a dedicated team into Dylan’s death is ongoing and the family is being kept fully informed.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 3656 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
