Girls rescued from River Trent ‘extremely lucky’, say police

Eleven-year-olds seen by passer-by who raised alarm

The incident happened near to where 12-year-old Owen Jenkins died in 2017 after he went missing while playing with friends (Getty Images)

Two 11-year-old girls were “extremely lucky” to escape unscathed after becoming trapped on a frozen part of the River Trent, police said.

Nottinghamshire Police said the girls were rescued on Saturday afternoon after they were spotted by a passer-by who alerted authorities.

A joint rescue operation between police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service was launched near St Mary’s Church, Holgate, about 4.45pm.

According to police, one of the girls had fallen through the ice into the freezing water, while the other was stranded on an island.

The force said the first girl was able to be supported in walking out the water as she was closer to the edge, however crews had to use an inflatable piece of equipment called a pathway to bring the other safely back across the water.

Police added the girls were “unharmed but extremely cold”.

Nottinghamshire Police Chief Inspector Duncan Southall said: “The girls are extremely lucky to have been unharmed.

“Luckily a passer-by saw them in difficulty and called the emergency services. If it hadn’t been for this person raising the alarm there could have been tragic consequences. It was getting dark at the time and was freezing cold. They are incredibly lucky this person saw them.

“I hope this serves as a stark reminder to others that it is not safe to play on the ice as it can easily crack and put people in great danger. Icy water can be incredibly dangerous.”

The incident occurred just a few hundred metres away from the area where 12-year-old Owen Jenkins died trying to rescue two friends who had got into difficulty in the water at Beeston Weir in July 2017.

His mother Nicola, who founded the Open Water Education Network safety programme in his memory, reiterated the warning, saying: “When it comes to ice children don’t seem to see the danger. They just think it is a bit of fun.

“A lot of the ice looks thick but it isn’t. Where the water is shallow it can be thick but when it gets deeper it is thin and that’s where the difficulty lies and you can become stranded. It is best to stay away, it is not worth the risk.

“Parents need to be more open with their children and explain the dangers of open water and ice in cold weather.”

PA