A 14-year-old boy is missing and is believed to have drowned after getting into difficulty in the River Thames in Richmond.
At 4:43pm last night, the police were alerted to reports that a child had been seen to enter the water at Tagg’s Island in Hampton.
Police officers responded with paramedics and the London Fire Brigade and an extensive search was carried out involving all three emergency services and members of the public.
However, efforts to locate the boy were unsuccessful and at 6:40pm, the rescue operation was brought to an end.
Efforts to recover his body will continue and his next of kin are aware and are being supported by specialist officers.
Superintendent Richard Smith, from the South West Command Unit, said: “Despite the very best efforts of all involved, we must now sadly conclude that this young boy has died.
“His death is a tragedy and I cannot begin to imagine what his family will be going through. All our thoughts are with them.
“I know that on days like today when temperatures are at a record high, it might look appealing to jump in and cool off in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or other open water.
“Please don’t. The dangers are real and this evening in Richmond we have seen the terrible consequences of what happens when it goes wrong.
“To young people in particular, I would urge you to be the person in your group of friends who says no and reminds others about the dangers.
“Your intervention could save a life and save another family from experiencing such an awful loss.”
Featured image credit: Johnathan Cardy via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 3.0 license
