Leicester river search: Cops looking for dog walker who may have seen tragedy

20 February 2024 , 08:35

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Specialist teams continued the search overnight (Image: PA)

Police who are hunting for a toddler who fell into a river are hoping to speak to a dog walker who was in the area at the time of the tragedy.

The development comes as specialist divers continued to search through the River Soar near Aylestone in Leicestershire overnight. The two year old was with his family when the incident took place on Sunday evening.

His dad has since been discharged from hospital after he tried to jump in to rescue him. Police have vowed to carry on with the search and said, 'we will bring him home'.

Sergeant Chris Haines, who is charge of the search operation, said: "Underwater dihive teams are doing extensive searches, which they are continuing at present." He further explained that the search will continue "over the next couple of days".

Police are hoping to speak with the dog walker (Leicester media)

Police shared that there was a owner and their dog strolling along the river's footpath at around 5pm. Leicestershire Police's assistant chief constable Michaela Kerr told a news conference: "We're confident we will find him - we're doing everything we possibly can.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

"For the family, our commitment is absolutely to make sure we bring their little boy home. We've got all the specialist resources we would possibly want, I think, in a case like this. Our absolute priority is to find that little boy."

She added: "The child was with a family member at the time he went into the water. We do know one person went into the River Soar to try to get the child but sadly we still haven't been able to find the child." Ms Kerr said that person was a family member and has since been discharged from hospital. She added that the family were "local" to the area.

The boy's father tried to save him (Tom Maddick SWNS)

A nearby resident, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that that extensive flooding had left part of the nature reserve in a bad state. They told reporters: "It [ the search helicopter ] seemed to be there for a long time hovering.

"It felt as if it was above my house. The lights were on and it didn't move for about an hour or so." Speaking about the river she said, "It's fast-flowing. It's been quite bad. It's devastating to think how they (family members) must be feeling."

Monica Charsley