Jumat, 27 April 2012

Boy, eight, swept away by rain-swollen river as he plays with friends: Search and rescue teams launch major operation

Boy, eight, swept away by rain-swollen river as he plays with friends: Search and rescue teams launch major operation

By Damien Gayle

PUBLISHED: 20:36 EST, 27 April 2012 | UPDATED: 20:36 EST, 27 April 2012


A major search operation was under way tonight after an eight-year-old boy fell into a rain-swollen river while playing with friends.

The boy is believed to have fallen into the River Wear, near Willington, in County Durham, at around 7pm.

A local publican told how the area had experienced heavy rainfall and the river was flooded.

The boy fell into the river near the Brown Trout pub in Willington, County Durham

The boy fell into the river near the Brown Trout pub in Willington, County Durham

Police, the fire service and search and rescue teams were carrying out an 'extensive' search of the river, Durham Police said.

A police spokesman said: 'Police are currently searching for an eight-year-old boy who fell into the River Wear, near Willington, this evening.

'The boy, who was playing with his friends in the area of the Brown Trout pub, which is in close proximity to the river, is believed to have fallen from the embankment into the water at approximately 7pm this evening.

'An extensive search of the river is currently in progress, with assistance from the fire brigade. Teesside Search and Rescue are also providing assistance, along with the police North East Air Support Unit.'

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended the search but had since left the scene.

A spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said the fire service had also left the area, but the RAF and the mountain rescue team would continue the search during the night.

The spokeswoman said: 'At 1927 hours, we received a call to Prospect Place, at Sunnybrow, Crook. This was one eight-year-old boy, from Sunnybrow, believed to have been in the river.

< p>'A multi-agency approach was co-ordinated by the fire service, involving fire, police, ambulance, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue and the RAF, who have attempted to locate the boy.

'The RAF and mountain rescue team are continuing the search during the evening hours.'

Janice Larnach, the owner of the Brown Trout pub, near to where the boy is believed to have fallen in the river, said the area had experienced heavy rainfall during the last week and the River Wear was flooded.

She said the boy had not yet been found, although she believed his bicycle had been discovered on the river bank.

Mrs Larnach said the boy's brother had told search teams he saw his sibling fall and grab on to a tree branch, which then snapped.

She said: 'A little boy was reported to have fallen in the river and his bike was found at the river bank.

'His brother said he saw him fall in, hang on to a branch and that snapped but he hasn't been found up to now.

'It happened just as we were opening and we've had a full-scale search in the area.'

Mrs Larnarch added: 'We've had heavy rain for a week. It hasn't rained today but the river's really in flood.'

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