Police issue update on missing boy, 2, who fell in water after dive teams search

19 February 2024 , 20:33

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A search operation has continued on the River Soar in Leicester for a missing two-year-old boy (Image: PA)

Police have issued a new update on a missing two-year-old boy who fell into a river.

The young child had been with family when he fell into the River Soar at Aylestone Meadows, Leicester on Sunday, and has not yet been found. Emergency services attended the scene just after 5pm the same day, with a search above ground and by dive teams continuing through the night.

Officers confirmed on Monday that additional dive teams from neighbouring counties have now been brought in to assist the search. Members of the public have been urged not to carry out their own searches due to high river levels in the area.

Police confirmed that additional dive teams from neighbouring counties have now been brought in to assist the search (PA)

Leicestershire Police Sergeant Chris Haines who is in charge of the water search said there have been many agencies involved in the hunt for the little boy. He said: "During the day today, we’ve had colleagues from regional forces and underwater dive teams doing extensive searches and they are continuing at present. We have also had fantastic support from the voluntary sector from Leicestershire Search and Rescue and Warwickshire Search and Rescue and Northamptonshire Search and Rescue, along with our own officers, who searched all the Waterways and fields surrounding here.

"We’ve also had support from Leicester Fire and Rescue Service in the water searches and the Environment Agency have also provided support during the day. The searches continuing nine were concentrating down river from where we are now from where the boy fell into the water, and those searches will continue over the next couple of days."

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Police have urged local people not to do their own searches due to dangerously high river levels in the area (Tom Maddick SWNS)

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “Firstly our thoughts are very much with the little boy’s family at this extremely difficult and heartbreaking time. It is unimaginable to know what they must be going through.

“As soon as the report was received yesterday, officers and other emergency services were deployed to the scene. Searches commenced immediately and continued throughout the night. Rising water levels made the searches difficult. However, we used the resources available to us including NPAS to try and locate the boy.

“This morning additional specialist teams including dive teams from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Police are being deployed to the scene. We do please continue to ask members of the public to not carry out their own searches, due to the dangerous water levels at the scene. If anyone has any information or comes across anything that may assist officers, they are asked to contact us immediately.

“Thank you to all our officers and specialist teams who continue to work extremely hard at the scene in what are very difficult circumstances for everyone involved. Thank you also to you, the members of the public, for your ongoing support and co-operation. It is very much appreciated.”

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas