'We aren't giving up': Police search for missing boy, 11, to resume this morning
“We will have to await first light to resume extensive search activities, but we aren’t giving up”
A search for a missing 11-year-old boy in a South Yorkshire river is to resume this morning.
The youngster was last seen entering the water of the River Don in Mexborough, at 8pm on Saturday.
Police remained by the River Don, off Ferryboat Lane, last night (May 31, 2026) after tireless search efforts since 4am.
A major search operation began just after 8pm on Saturday following reports that the missing boy had entered the river but was not seen emerging.
Over the course of yesterday, a multi-agency operation - involving emergency services, an underwater search team, the Yorkshire Air Service, and Mountain Rescue – searched the river, the riverbank, and nearby open land.
Sadly, the boy has not yet been found.
Family Liaison Officers remain in regular contact with his family, say South Yorkshire Police.
‘We aren’t giving up’
PC Simon Bennett, the Police Search Advisor who has been coordinating the search teams, said: “Since first light (Sunday), 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.”
The search had to be suspended due to failing light.
Announcing that, PC Bennett said: “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.”
Why is there a search operation in Mexborough?
Emergency services were called to the River Don at Ferry Boat Lane at about 8pm on Saturday, May 30.
A 999 call was placed after a boy entered the water but had not been seen getting out. He has not been seen since.
Emergency services were called to Ferry Boat Lane at about 8pm on Saturday to reports a boy had entered the water but had not been seen getting out.
The boy’s identity has not been made public by South Yorkshire Police.
The public was asked to stay away from the scene and not to “spectate or film” the search operation.
The end of Ferry Boat Lane before it reaches the water is gated, but there is separate path to a footbridge over the River Don, where there is a lock for canal boats.