Tragedy as body found in search for missing boy in River Don
Emergency services make sad announcement as search ended near Mexborough
Emergency services have called off a search for a missing 11-year -old, following the tragic discovery of a body.
South Yorkshire Police announced the sad news this morning, after a search operation for young McKenzie Swift which had gone on for two days.
They said the search came to an end shortly before 11pm last night.
Mackenzie's family have been informed and have been offered specialist support. Formal identification will take place in due course, say officers.
Mackenzie had last been seen entering the River Don near Mexborough on Saturday evening, and the alarm was raised when he was not seen to emerge.
Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp – the district commander for Doncaster, said: "First and foremost, on behalf of all who have been involved in the operation to find Mackenzie since Saturday, I send deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare and I know the impact this news will have on the wider community and particularly Mackenzie's school.
"The search for Mackenzie has been a real multi-agency effort and, while SYP are thankful to our emergency service colleagues and the underwater search team, I would like to take a moment to recognise Woodhead Mountain Rescue. While highly trained and skilled, many of their team are volunteers who give up their time to help search teams when they need it most.
"I would also like to thank the local community, who enabled us to conduct our search and recovery with very few onlookers and cameras to give Mackenzie and his family the dignity they deserve. Not only for that, but also for the offers of assistance - we knew we had many members of the public willing to do anything they could to help."
Officers had launched a search of the River Don on Saturday evening, using specialist resources, after being called to Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough.
They had been called out at 7.59pm on Saturday May to 30 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 with a specialist search operation.
It is the the second death to be announced in open water in South Yorkshire in just over a week.
Muhammad, aged 16, disappeared at Rother Valley Country Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
His body was recovered from the lake the following day. following a search by emergency services.