A body recovered from a river in Lancashire is believed to be that of a missing 12-year-old boy, police have said. Lancashire Police confirmed that a body was recovered from the River Ribble on Tuesday evening, and it is thought to be the boy who got into difficulty while swimming with friends earlier in the day.
Police Statement
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “At 2.06pm today, we received a report of a concern for safety after a boy had gone into the River Ribble at Ribchester. The boy, aged 12, had got into difficulty while swimming with friends in the river. A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with colleagues from North-West Ambulance Service providing support. Very sadly, a body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm. While formal identification has not yet taken place, we believe it to be the body of the missing boy. His family are being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers, and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this extremely distressing time. The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed in due course to HM Coroner.”
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not released further details at this stage. The incident has prompted an outpouring of condolences from the local community. Police have urged the public to respect the family's privacy during this difficult period.
