Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter
A Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter spotted the seven-year-old boy at the foot of the cliffs and flew him to hospital Getty

A seven-year-old boy has died after falling from cliffs in Northern Ireland.

The boy had been missing for an hour on Sunday evening before he was found in the sea in Ballycastle, County Antrim.

The child whose name has not yet been released is believed to have been playing with friends near to Silvercliff Caravan Park when he fell from the cliffs.

The RNLI, coastguard and police coordinated a mass search for him.

The Royal Navy rescue helicopter spotted the child at the bottom of the cliff and took him to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine where he later died from his injuries.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: "Shortly before 7.15pm, it was reported that the boy fell from a cliff into the sea.

"Northern Ireland Coastguard recovered the boy from the sea and he was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but later died as a result of his injuries. Inquiries are continuing."

A statement on the Belfast Coastguard's Facebook page was posted on Sunday, which read: "Belfast Coastguard coordinated the search this evening for a child who was missing near cliffs close to the Silvercliff Caravan Park at Ballycastle.

"The child was found at the base of the cliffs and has been taken by the RN helicopter to Coleraine Hospital."