A 12-year-old boy has died after drowning in the River Lea, located near Hackney Marshes in north-east London. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) received a report of a person in the water shortly after 6 p.m. BST on Saturday.
Crews from the LFB, alongside the Metropolitan Police, conducted a search of the river. Police divers located and recovered the boy's body, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The LFB deployed resources from Homerton, Leyton, and Leytonstone fire stations, as well as specialist rescue units from Edmonton and Bethnal Green, and the brigade's drone team. Firefighters concluded their operations at the scene just after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, expressed her condolences, stating, "All of our thoughts are with the child's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time." Garbett also acknowledged the emergency services for their "rapid response" and "extensive efforts." She described the incident as "a devastating loss for our community" and urged respect for the family's privacy as they grieve.