A 12-year-old boy has drowned in the River Lea in east London, near Hackney Marshes. Emergency services were alerted after the boy was seen entering the water around 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Police divers located the child shortly after midnight on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Metropolitan Police. The boy's next of kin have been notified and are receiving support from specialist officers.
The London Fire Brigade participated in the hours-long search operation. Crews from Homerton, Leyton, and Leytonstone, along with specialist units from Edmonton and Bethnal Green fire stations and the LFB's drone team, were deployed.
The Mayor of Hackney, Zoe Garbett, expressed her sorrow over the incident, stating that her thoughts were with the child's family and friends. She described the event as a "devastating loss for our community" and urged the public to respect the family's privacy during their time of grief.
Scotland Yard has stated that the youth's death is being treated as "unexplained." Detective Inspector Azmeen Pinnu, who is leading the investigation, appealed to the public to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing distressing material online out of respect for the family and to protect the integrity of the investigation. The death is being investigated on behalf of the coroner, with inquiries ongoing to determine the full circumstances.
Balloons and flowers were placed at the scene on Monday. John Martin, the duty manager at Hackney Marshes Centre, recalled seeing emergency services, including ambulances, fire engines, and helicopters, as he was preparing to close the site on Saturday evening. He was informed by a police officer that a 12-year-old boy was missing in the water. Martin shared his condolences, saying, "It's very sad news. I've got kids myself and I've worked at swimming pools and it's not what you want to hear. My heart goes out to the family."
Hackney Marshes and the River Lea are situated adjacent to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.