A 12-year-old boy has died after drowning in the River Lea in east London, authorities have confirmed. Emergency services were alerted on Saturday at approximately 6 p.m. after the youngster was observed entering the water near Hackney Marshes.
Police divers located the boy just after midnight on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police stated that the boy's next of kin have been notified and are receiving support from specialist officers. The London Fire Brigade participated in the multi-hour search operation.
The death is currently being treated as unexplained by Scotland Yard. Detective Inspector Azmeen Pinnu, who is leading the police investigation, described the incident as deeply tragic and expressed condolences to the boy's family and the community. Police are urging the public to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing distressing content online out of respect for the family and to safeguard the investigation.
The investigation is being conducted on behalf of the coroner, with inquiries ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. On Monday, a balloon and flowers were placed at the scene.
John Martin, duty manager at Hackney Marshes Centre, recalled seeing emergency services, including ambulances, fire engines, and helicopters, arriving at the site as he was preparing to close the gates on Saturday. He was informed by a police officer that a 12-year-old boy was missing in the water.
The fire brigade deployed crews from Homerton, Leyton, and Leytonstone, along with specialist rescue units from Edmonton and Bethnal Green, and the LFB's drone team. Hackney Marshes and the River Lea are adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the site of the London 2012 Summer Games.