Police and mountain rescue teams have been combing the River Don in Yorkshire for missing Mackenzie Swift since Saturday
Emergency teams scouring a river for a missing 11-year-old say they have found a body. Police searching for Mackenzie Swift, who had been missing for 48 hours, say their search came to an end shortly before 11pm last night.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Mackenzie’s family have been informed and have the offer of specialist support. Formal identification will take place in due course.”
Mackenzie had last been seen entering the River Don near Mexborough on Saturday evening, and the alarm was raided when he was not seen to emerge, reports YorkshireLive.
In a statement today, 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 South Yorkshire Police 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.
READ MORE: Boxing rivals became unlikely friends after Liverpool derby fight
READ MORE: Historic venue that bands and celebrities loved about to change again
“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.”
Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google search by making us a preferred source. Click here to activate or add us as a preferred source.
