Heroic bystanders jumped in to save boy but couldn’t reach sister as emergency crews scoured river for nearly 24 hours
Body found in search for girl missing in River Thames – Police searching for a missing girl in the River Thames have found a body.
Emergency services responded on Friday to a report of two children, a boy and a girl, in difficulty in the water near the Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend, Kent, having entered the river at nearby Royal Pier Road.
A boy has since been rescued and is in a stable condition at a local hospital. Kent Police said the body was recovered at around 11.40am.
The force said in a statement on Saturday afternoon its marine unit and the coastguard “continued the search of the water and river bank this morning.
Heartbreaking discovery
After nearly 24 hours of desperate searching, rescue teams made the tragic discovery that every parent dreads – recovering a body from the murky waters of the Thames at around 11.40am on Saturday.
Kent Police confirmed: “At around 11.40am, a body was recovered from the river near Gravesend with the assistance of the RNLI.
Formal identification by the missing girl’s devastated family has taken place, though authorities have not released the ages of the children involved in this heartbreaking incident.
Heroes who tried to save them
In an extraordinary act of bravery, two men jumped into the treacherous waters of the Thames after witnessing the children in distress on Friday afternoon.
According to a spokesman for the nearby Gravesend Rowing Club, one of the heroic rescuers swam out using a life ring in a desperate bid to save both children.
He managed to retrieve the boy from the fast-flowing river, but tragically lost sight of the girl before he could reach her – a moment that will undoubtedly haunt him forever.
Massive emergency response
The alarm was raised at 1.35pm on Friday, triggering one of the largest emergency responses seen on the Thames in recent years.
Metropolitan Police boats raced to the scene alongside the RNLI lifeboat from Gravesend, Kent Police marine units, and a police helicopter circling overhead.
Officers were stationed along the river from Royal Terrace Pier to Town Pier, desperately scanning the water for any sign of the missing girl.
Brother’s fight for survival
The boy, pulled from the river by the brave bystanders, was rushed to a local hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Police confirmed “he was taken to local hospital for further medical attention” with his condition “not described to be life-threatening.
The youngster’s survival offers a small glimmer of hope amid the overwhelming tragedy that has befallen this family.
River of death
The incident occurred at one of the most dangerous stretches of the Thames, where powerful currents and cold temperatures make survival extremely difficult.
The children entered the water at Royal Pier Road, near the historic Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend – a busy area popular with families during the half-term holidays.
Emergency crews battled against time, knowing that in the Thames’ icy waters, every second counts in the fight for survival.
Search suspended overnight
As darkness fell on Friday evening, the heartbreaking decision was made to suspend the search, with coastguard officials acknowledging the grim reality facing them.
HM Coastguard confirmed the search “for a girl who remains missing is currently suspended” as night made conditions too dangerous for rescue teams.
The overnight pause must have been agonizing for the family, clinging to fading hope as they waited for dawn and the resumption of the search.
Community in shock
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Gravesend community, with the riverside area remaining cordoned off throughout the search.
A police cordon was established at the junction of Commercial Place, The Terrace and Milton Place, while a fitness area by Gordon Promenade was also taped off.
Eyewitnesses described seeing “approximately four boats out at sea, including police and RNLI vessels” as the desperate search unfolded.
Every parent’s nightmare
The Port of London Authority, which manages the pier area, made the initial 999 call at 1.46pm after receiving reports of children in the water.
Within minutes, the river had transformed from a place of recreation into the scene of every parent’s worst nightmare.
The parents of both children were informed immediately and have been supported by specialist officers throughout the ordeal.
No suspicious circumstances
Kent Police confirmed “the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The focus now turns to understanding how this terrible tragedy unfolded and what lessons can be learned to prevent future incidents.
Questions will inevitably be asked about safety measures along this stretch of the Thames and whether more could be done to protect children.
River safety warnings
The incident serves as a devastating reminder of the dangers posed by the River Thames, even in seemingly calm conditions.
The river’s strong currents, cold temperatures, and hidden hazards make it extremely dangerous, particularly for children.
Safety experts regularly warn against entering the Thames, but on a warm day during school holidays, the temptation can prove fatal.
Heroes among us
While this story ends in tragedy, the bravery of those who risked their own lives jumping into the Thames to save the children deserves recognition.
The unnamed heroes who plunged into the dangerous waters without thought for their own safety embody the very best of humanity.
Though they couldn’t save both children, their actions ensured one family didn’t lose everything on that terrible Friday afternoon.
A community mourns
As Gravesend comes to terms with this tragedy, the community has rallied around the devastated family.
The death of a child affects everyone, reminding us of the fragility of life and the unimaginable pain of losing a young life so suddenly.
In the days ahead, the focus will be on supporting the bereaved family and the traumatized boy who survived while his companion did not.
The River Thames has claimed another innocent victim, leaving a family destroyed and a community asking: how can we prevent this from happening again?
If you witnessed this incident or have information, contact Kent Police on 101
