Nine-year-old Iowa football fan found dead after falling through ice on a pond near 'dream home' family moved into just two weeks ago - as grandfather says they had no idea treacherous water was so close

A nine-year-old Iowa football fan who was found dead after falling through ice on a pond near his new home has been pictured for the first time.

Aiden James-Harrison Smith was identified as the victim of the tragic accident on Saturday.

The youngster died after he plunged into an icy pond near the Waukee home he had moved to just two weeks earlier.

His family shared heartbreaking images of the smiling youngster as they paid tribute to the 'curious' and 'kind' little boy. 

Aiden fell into the pond just half an hour before he was due to see a movie with his grandfather after going off to explore the area. 

Aiden James-Harrison Smith died after plunging into an icy pond near his Waukee home on Saturday

The nine-year-old (pictured with his mom Amber Smith) had moved to the property just two weeks ago and his parents were not aware it existed when they let him go off to explore

A concerned neighbor raised the alarm after spotting Aiden's shoes near a hole in the ice. 

His family said they believe he took them off to try and skate on the frozen surface. They had no idea the treacherous water was so close by since they are new to the area.

Dad Mark Smith described how he and his wife have been wracked with guilt since the incident. 

'Aiden touched so many people. He was a very bright light. And it seems that it shined farther than even we (his parents) knew,' he said.

'People have poured in and said that they looked up to us and the way we parented. And that means more than you know.

'There have been more than a few times we've stacked the bricks up and tried to figure out what we could possibly do differently.

'We should have taught him. We should have just let him play the game more.

'We shouldn't have said no to some trivial thing or another. Your messages have quelled that.'

Aiden was a talented athlete and Cub Scot who played for Waukee Youth Football

A concerned neighbor raised the alarm after spotting Aiden's shoes near a hole in the ice

He revealed the family had purchased their 'dream house' not long ago.

Aiden's grandfather said the boy had never mentioned the pond so they 'never knew that it existed'. 

'You can't see it unless you go up and over a hill, because sits down in an embankment,' he told I am Iowa.

The devastated grandfather said he was with Aiden just 30 minutes before the horror accident. 

'He must have fell, and his weight broke the ice, and then he didn't resurface,' he added.

Aiden was described as a talented athlete, who competed in Waukee's football and baseball leagues.

He was also a Cub Scout and looking forward to becoming a Boy Scout. 

Waukee Youth Football paid tribute to the team member, saying his, 'presence as a friend, teammate and player will be greatly missed.'

Relatives paid tribute to the 'sweet, extremely smart' youngster who 'had a heart of gold'

A GoFundMe has been set up by a family friend to help cover funeral costs, which has raised over $27,000 so far.

'On December 2nd, a terrible accident took sweet Aiden to heaven way too soon,' the page states.

'Despite his short time on this Earth, Aiden touched the lives of anyone he met. He was sweet, extremely smart, and had a heart of gold.

'Aiden was his mother’s and father’s entire world. We are all devastated by the unexpected loss of Aiden and that is why I am asking for donations to help cover the cost of funeral expenses.'

Details of the funeral are yet to be confirmed but members of the community have been invited.

A makeshift memorial has also been set up on the banks of the pond to honor Aiden.