A body recovered from the the River Ribble is believed to that of a missing boy, police say.
Lancashire Police believe the body to be that of a missing 12-year-old boy who got into difficulty while swimming with friends on Tuesday.
Officers were called shortly after 2pm after a report of a concern for safety after a boy had gone into the River Ribble at Ribchester.
After a large-scale search, involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, a body was recovered from the river just before 8pm.
The death is not being treated as suspicious, police say.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “At 2.06pm today, we received a report of a concern for safety after a boy had gone into the River Ribble at Ribchester.
“The boy, aged 12, had got into difficulty while swimming with friends in the river.
“A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with colleagues from North-West Ambulance Service providing support.
“Very sadly, a body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm. While formal identification has not yet taken place, we believe it to be the body of the missing boy.
“His family are being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers, and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this extremely distressing time.
The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed in due course to HM Coroner.”
More to follow…