Thames search ends in tragedy: police find body of missing girl near Gravesend
Officers looking for a girl who went missing in the River Thames yesterday afternoon have discovered a body.
The Coastguard and Kent Police arrived at the scene on Friday afternoon after two children entered the water near Royal Pier Road in Gravesend.
One of the children, a boy, was rescued on Friday afternoon, but the search for the second child, a girl, continued into the afternoon and resumed on Saturday morning.
Police have now confirmed that a body was found at about 11.40am today, and the missing girl’s family has formally identified her.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a report will be prepared for the coroner.’
The boy was taken to hospital on Friday afternoon and police have described his condition as ‘stable’.
Emergency services were first alerted at about 1.35pm yesterday. On Saturday, Kent Police’s marine unit and the Coastguard resumed their search of the water and river bank.
A Kent Police spokesperson said on Saturday: ‘Officers searching the River Thames near Gravesend for a missing girl have located a body.
‘Kent Police was called by the Port of London Authority to concerns for the welfare of two children who had entered the river at Royal Pier Road.
‘Patrols, HM Coastguard, the RNLI and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where a boy had been retrieved from the water. He remains at a local hospital in a stable condition.
‘Kent Police’s Marine Unit and HM Coastguard continued the search of the water and river bank this morning.
‘At around 11.40am, a body was recovered from the river near Gravesend with the assistance of the RNLI.
‘Formal identification by the missing girl’s next of kin has taken place.’
A HM Coastguard spokesman said yesterday: ‘HM Coastguard is responding to a report of two children in difficulty in the water near the Royal Terrace Pier, Gravesend.
‘The alarm was raised at about 1.35pm. One child has been recovered and the search is ongoing for a second.
‘Metropolitan Police boats are attending as well as the RNLI lifeboat from Gravesend, Kent Police, and a police helicopter. South East Coast Ambulance Service was sent.’
An ambulance spokesperson said: ‘SECAmb were called at approximately 1.40pm today to concerns for the welfare of two people who had entered the river at Royal Pier Road in Gravesend.
‘Crews attended the scene, and a male patient was assessed and treated before being taken to a local hospital for further medical treatment.’
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