Polperro is in mourning for young fisherman Daniel Keeble - 'The perfect son.'

Daniel failed to return from a routine trip out to sea on Saturday, fishing for cod aboard his boat Harbour Lights.

Reluctantly, on Tuesday morning, the small fishing fleet dropped their flags to half mast, after they had taken part in one of the largest full scale searches to take place in local waters in recent years. They had finally conceded all hope was now lost.

Fishing communities live with the dangers of the sea on a daily basis, and are closer than most because of it, but when it takes a 'favourite son' which 21 year old Daniel obviously was, it hits hard, and the people of closely knit Polperro are openly shattered by the tragedy, and are rallying round his grieving family and paying outstanding tributes.

Busy

His parents Terry and Elaine, and 18 year old sister Carrie-Anne, invited the Cornish Times into their home because they wanted to express in personal terms how much Daniel meant to them. They said right away that talking helps, and Elaine is keeping busy by making cups of tea for all the many callers.

For her it is the second terrible tragedy in her life. When she was just 19 her 21 year old first husband was killed in a road accident, and now she is trying to come to terms with losing her son at exactly the same age.

'He was the perfect son. He never brought home any trouble and he was just adorable' she said. 'He was a home boy who loved his home comforts'. Terry said everything everywhere reminded them of their loss. 'On the radio just now they were playing 'If I could turn back time', I just wish we could, but we can't. Now we just want him back' he said.

Smile

They described Daniel as a bit of a 'Jack the Lad', living life to the full. He had many friends of all ages, and endeared himself to everyone around him with his smile, sense of humour, kindness and generosity.

He had a terrific sense of humour and adored Jethro jokes, and was thrilled when his sister gave him the latest video for Christmas.

The couple say they are so grateful they have the memories of a wonderful family holiday the four of them shared together in Malta in November. 'I'm so pleased we did that' said Elaine. Carrie-Ann said that on holiday she and Daniel had talked together a lot and they had said how they always seemed to know what the other was thinking .

'I was so certain that Daniel was still alive somewhere, clinging to a rock, just waiting for someone to come and pick him up' she said.

'I just wouldn't give up hope and now I will never let him go'.

The family say their hopes and prayers now are that Daniel will be found. Even the big labrador Buddy is pining badly, jumping expectantly everytime the door bell rings, and listening all the time for the roar of Daniel's motorbike.

Terry described how Daniel had wanted to be a fisherman from a young lad, the family first coming to Polperro in 1987, when he was still a full time London fireman, and commuting to the village at weekends.

He said former head teacher at the primary school, Dennis Kennedy, had helped Daniel settle down in his new environment. He became his mentor and used to tell him tales about the sea and fishing.

'That was the start of it and fishing was all he wanted to do after that' he said. Terry said that Daniel had worked flat out last year to buy a conveyor net hauler for the Harbour Lights. 'It was fitted a couple of weeks ago, it was his pride and joy' he said.

'The latest thing he was talking about was saving to buy a pick up truck to transport his fish to market