Mackenzie Swift: MPs thank emergency services for efforts to search for missing boy, 11, in river
“Emergency services and search teams worked tirelessly”
Two South Yorkshire MPs have praised and thanked emergency services for their efforts to search for a boy who disappeared in a river.
Mackenzie Swift, aged 11, was last seen entering the River Don on Saturday evening but failed to re-emerge, triggering a major search and rescue operation.
The search was called off last night after a body was recovered from the water at around 11pm.
Posting online, Ed Milliband said: “I send my deepest condolences to the family of Mackenzie Swift.
“I can only imagine the terrible grief the family is facing and I want them to know that the whole community is with them in this time of such sorrow.
“I am deeply grateful to the emergency services and search teams who have worked tirelessly in recent days.”
And MPJohn Heeley said: “I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Mackenzie Swift and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“I am grateful to the emergency services and search teams for their tireless efforts over recent days.”
Teams searching for Mackenzie along the river at Mexborough found a body last night after a 48-hour search.
The search involved South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, underwater search specialists and mountain rescue volunteers.
Mackenzie's family have been informed and have the offer of specialist support. Formal identification will take place in due course.
Annoucing the discovery of the body, 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."