BALLOONS were released as part of a vigil held on Bournemouth beach to remember DJ Quinn, a four-month-old baby who died unexpectedly of meningitis.

Around 35 people gathered for the vigil held to remember the short life of DJ Quinn who, as reported, passed away less than a week ago.

Daniel-Francis Rodney Vivian Quinn, known as DJ, was born on May 27 to parents Megan Marlow and Daniel Quinn, weighing just two pounds and nine ounces.

Megan said: “It was very overwhelming, but it has also brought a lot of us closer together. I haven’t seen my granddad for over two years, and he was able to come along.

“It was a lovely day for a lovely boy. He was very loved by a lot of people and he fought hard, bless him.”

Having been born during lockdown, young DJ spent 87 days in intensive care at Poole Hospital, where his parents were allowed to see him twice a day.

After recovering from sepsis twice and from surgery for two hernias in Southampton Hospital, DJ was given the all clear by doctors and was finally allowed home with his parents in August.

However, on Thursday, September 24, DJs physical state deteriorated rapidly and within hours of the first signs of deadly infection, he was pronounced dead by paramedics in the early hours of Friday, September 25.

Attendees of the memorial service wore face masks and assembled on Pier Approach with balloons decorated with emotive messages to DJ.

After a few short words from Megan’s dad, Rodney Marlow, thanking everyone in attendance for coming, around 30 balloons were released into the air and watched on by the group of family members and friends as well as onlookers on the beach.

Megan has appealed to parents of young children to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis and, if they do appear, seek emergency assistance straight away.

She added: “I want to say thank you to everyone that came along. His story has touched a lot of people and got a lot of attention which is what we want.

“People know about the disease but don’t really know what to look out for.

“It was only a heat rash, but it went pretty quickly. After about an hour the purple one came up and most parents know what that is.

“When a child gets the initial rash, sometimes it is meningitis and sometimes it is not. If you do see it, take your child to the doctors to get it seen to. I wish I did.”