A man who was killed on the M5 motorway early on Wednesday (April 30th) has been identified as the ‘uncle’ of tragic toddler Dylan Cecil, who died after falling into the sea from Burnham’s jetty in 2012.

Pete Thurlow, 42, was visiting Burnham this week to lay flowers on the town’s seafront to mark what would have been the youngster’s sixth birthday, as reported here.

Mr Thurlow was a friend of Dylan’s family and was affectionately known as uncle.

However, within hours of the flowers being placed, Dylan’s uncle was tragically killed on the M5 motorway at 12.50am on Wednesday morning. He was in collision with a lorry travelling northbound and was pronounced dead at the scene, as reported here.

A message posted on Facebook by friends and family confirmed the man was Dylan’s uncle.

Scores of tributes and messages of sympathy have been left for the shocked family by well-wishers.

A post from Dylan’s mother, Rachel McCollum, stated: “Dylan, as you know me, daddy, aunty Lisa and uncle Pete came to Burnham to lay you flowers for your 6th birthday, only for 50 mins after midnight your uncle Pete to be tragically killed on the motorway in Burnham. Please take care of each other…”

Dylan Cecil, pictured, drowned after falling from Burnham’s jetty into Bridgwater Bay on August 19th 2012.

Police are keen to hear from any motorists who saw Wednesday morning’s collision on the northbound carriageway of the M5, which was closed overnight and re-opened just before 5.30am.

A police spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Collision investigators are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling along the motorway at the time of the incident, who may have information to help their enquiries.”

Anyone with information should contact the collision investigation unit on the force’s number 101.

Flowers were laid on the seafront this week or Dylan on what would have been his birthday