An 11-year-old boy has gone missing after entering a river sparking a huge search operation.
Emergency services have swarmed Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, just before 8pm on Saturday after the child entered the water but was not seen getting out.
A specialist search and rescue mission is underway at the scene, with the National Police Air Service, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service all on scene, reports Yorkshire Live.
Police say they can identify where the child entered the water based on items left on the river bank and are doing “everything we can to find this young man”.
New UpdatesToday22:50 BST
The 11-year-old boy who entered the River Don in Mexborough sadly remains missing.
In an update this evening, police warned that the search is becoming “more challenging” as it enters a second day.
PC Simon Bennett, the police search adviser coordinating the search teams, said: “Since first light, experts with specialist knowledge and skills have assisted our search of the river, the riverbank, and nearby open land.
“The underwater search team initially waded in the shallow waters before boarding sled boats, while a boat with sonar has been used to search deeper waters. Officers from SYP and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have also checked the river bank, while Mountain Rescue have assisted the teams on nearby land. We’ve also been supported from above by air searches.
“As we have now lost daylight, the search has become more challenging and we will have to await first light to resume extensive search activities, but we aren’t giving up – police officers will remain at the River Don overnight and we are already putting plans in place for further searches of the River Don and nearby land tomorrow.
“The boy and his family are at the forefront of our minds and we are all doing everything we can to find this young man. I must thank the local community who have allowed us to conduct the search with few onlookers to ensure the boy and his family are afforded the dignity the deserve.
“We have had so many offers of help but, for everyone’s safety, must ask people to refrain from conducting their own searches of land or water – we have enough resources to continue the search and have access to a national network of specialists should we need them in the coming days.”
Eliana NunesToday14:45 BST
Emergency crews are searching for an 11-year-old boy who has gone missing in the River Don. Here’s everything we know so far:
- The boy was seen entering the water near Ferry Boat Lane, Mexborough, at around 8pm yesterday on Saturday, May 30.
- He was not seen getting back out and had left items on the river bank.
- Land, air and water rescue crews, including underwater teams, helicopters and drones, have been combing the area today, on Sunday, May 31.
- The public have been asked to avoid the area.
Christopher MallettToday13:27 BST
The major search operation underway in South Yorkshire today comes after more than a dozen young people have lost their lives after getting into difficulty in water in recent weeks.
As the UK has basked in the heat of a record-breaking May, many have turned to local beauty spots.
Sadly, 15 people have been recovered from reservoirs, lakes and open water spots across the country during the heatwave. Authorities have since issued stark warnings about open water swimming and its dangers.
Many of the victims have been young people. Earlier this week on Thursday, a 19-year-old man was the latest to suffer a water-related death after entering Balderton Lake in Nottinghamshire.
The tragedy follows that of Chiedza Nyanjowa, 15, who died after getting into difficulty at Formy beach, Merseyside, on Monday. A 16-year-old, identified as Charlie Noble, also died at Bracklinn Falls in Scotland on Thursday (May 28).
In Pick Mere Lake, Cheshire, 17-year-old David Tita Jr., was confirmed to have died. Junior Slater, 12, died after entering the River Ribble in Lancashire.
Also in South Yorkshire, Muhammed Secka, 17, died after getting into difficulty in water at Rother Valley Country Park. Reco Puttock, 13, died at Leadbeater Dam in West Yorkshire.
In Lincolnshire, Declan Sawyer, 15, died after entering Swanholme Lakes. And Baltazar L’Qui, 14, died after going into the River Thames from Donnington Bridge.
An unnamed girl is also said to have died at Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire, as well as another unnamed boy at Hawley Lake, Hampshire, and a third unnamed boy at Swascombe. Kent.
Not all the victims have been children or teenagers, though. A man in his 60s died at Padstow Cornwall, a 72-year-old woman died at West Angle Bay Beach in Pembrokeshire and an unnamed man in his 40s reportedly died at the River Yare in the Norfolk Broads.
Olivia BridgeToday12:35 BST
It is believed the youngster was last seen in the ‘pebble beach’ area by the canal, according to posts on social media.
Emergency services are still on the scene as a major search and rescue mission is underway after an 11-year-old boy entered the River Don shortly before 8pm on Saturday (May 30) and was not seen re-emerging.
Olivia BridgeToday12:23 BST
Locals across Coinsbrough and the Mexborough area reported hearing a plane overhead last night as emergency services continue to search for an 11-year-old boy who is believed to have entered the River Don before 8pm last night.
One woman said in a post on Facebook: “Police planne overhead for last 30 mins, 2x underwater, marine vans and undercover police.”
Others shared what appeared to be Flight Radar trackers of a helicopter in the vicinity last night.
Olivia BridgeToday11:25 BST
South Yorkshire Fire have said it was called to support a multi-agency operation to find the missing boy in the River Don yesterday but were “unfortuantely unable to locate” him.
In a statement today (Sunday), the fire service said: “Firefighters were called yesterday (Saturday 30 May) to assist with the search of an 11-year-old boy who had entered the water near Ferry Boat Lane, Mexborough, Doncaster.
“Crews attended to assist with the search but unfortunately were unable to locate the missing boy. Search efforts are currently still ongoing today (Sunday 31 May) and we have a number of resources still on scene.
“This is an active multi-agency operation, and we ask that the public remain away from the area while the search is ongoing.”
Olivia BridgeToday11:19 BST
South Yorkshire Police have said in a statement: “We were called to Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough at 7.59pm yesterday (Saturday 30 May) to reports that an 11-year-old boy had entered the water but had not been seen getting out.
“Officers, alongside emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, responded and a specialist search operation remains under way. The boy’s family has been informed and is being supported by specially trained officers.”
Olivia BridgeToday11:19 BST
Doncaster Response Team Inspector Neil Pryce said: “We know, from witnesses and items left on the riverbank, where the boy entered the water. Utilising specialist knowledge and skills, a coordinated multi-agency operation is underway and we are doing everything we can to find this young man.
“We are invaluably assisted by an underwater search team, supported from above by the police helicopter and drones. This is a tragic incident and we understand that members of the public want to do all they can to help but we must ask that, for everyone’s safety, only those who are involved in our operation enter the River Don.
“To give the boy and his family the dignity they deserve, we ask that people do not spectate or film the search operation.”