Body of missing 14-year-old swimmer found in River Thames
Search for teen lasted almost a day before body recovered
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Your support makes all the difference.Police have found the body of a 14-year-old boy who drowned while swimming in the River Thames.
The teenager is believed to have got into difficulty after entering the water at Tagg’s Island in Richmond, west London, on Monday during the UK’s record-breaking heatwave.
The Metropolitan Police first received reports of the incident at 4.43pm on Monday and officers headed to the scene along with paramedics and firefighters.
The three emergency services began a search with members of the public for the boy but called it off at 6.40pm without finding him.
Later in the evening police announced the boy was presumed to have drowned.
Another search was launched and the boy’s body was recovered from the river around 3.30pm on Tuesday.
His next of kin were informed and were being supported by specialist officers, police said.
Speaking on Monday, Superintendent Richard Smith, of the Met’s South West Command Unit, said: “Despite the very best efforts of all involved, we must now sadly conclude that this young boy has died.
“His death is a tragedy and I cannot begin to imagine what his family will be going through. All our thoughts are with them.”
Another teen boy died on Monday in Bray Lake by the Thames near Maidenhead in Berkshire.
The 16-year-old was named as Sean Norbert Anyanwu by Thames Valley Police.
His family said: “We are devastated by his loss and we would ask for our privacy to be respected while we grieve.”
At least six people, including four teenage boys, have died swimming in rivers and open water in recent days.
Authorities have warned the public against swimming in rivers, canals, open water and reservoirs.
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