Body found in search for teenager who went missing while playing near River Thames

Police called on Sunday night after boy spotted in River Thames near Lechlade-on-Thames

Gloucestershire Police were called at around 10pm on Sunday after the boy was spotted in the River Thames near Lechlade-on-Thames (PA)

A body has been found in the search for a teenager who went missing while playing with friends in a river in Gloucestershire.

Police were called at around 10pm on Sunday after the boy, 17, was spotted in the River Thames near Lechlade-on-Thames.

It is understood he had been playing near the river with four others, all believed to be aged around 17, and some of the group had entered the water to try to find him. The other four boys all left the water safely.

The National Police Air Service, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Severn Area Rescue Association carried out searches into the early hours. The boy was not found and specialist search teams launched a fresh search for him on Monday morning.

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Residents who live near to where the incident happened said police launched a rescue boat from Lechlade marina and slowly searched the water.

Officers were seen searching the area with torches and a helicopter was circling above the area on Sunday night and Monday morning.

A Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.03pm by the coastguard to reports that some teenagers, believed to be aged about 17, had been playing in the river at Lechlade and one hadn’t resurfaced.

“We assisted the search by sending three crews from Fairford, Gloucester South and Tewkesbury along with boat crews.

“We liaised with coastguards and the police who were coordinating the search and came away from the scene at about 4am.”

Officers from confirmed on Monday evening that a body had been recovered from the river by specialist divers from Avon and Somerset Police.

Formal identification has not yet taken place but the teenagers’s family have been informed and are being supported by trained officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious. Gloucestershire Constabulary said its thoughts were with the boy’s family and friends at this distressing time.