Emergency services search for six-year-old boy who fell into river in Sandwich, Kent

Sonar equipment is being used in the search for a six-year-old boy who fell into a river and was immediately swept away by the strong current.

Members of the public joined specialist search-and-rescue teams scouring river banks and waterways in Sandwich, Kent, this morning as the search resumed.

Darkness halted rescue efforts after 10pm last night.

Lucas Dobson slipped into the River Stour yesterday afternoon while on a fishing trip with family.

His aunt said Lucas’s father jumped into the water after Lucas fell between a jetty and a boat but “the current was too strong, he had already gone”.

“He was with his dad and his dad’s friends along with other children,” Maciee Stanford, 18, told the Mirror online.

“The incident happened because our Lucas was on the jetty and tried to step from there on to the boat but he fell in between the jetty and the boat.

“As soon as he fell the three adults jumped in after (him) but the current was too strong, he had already gone in the short amount of time he could not be found.

“They fish and do this regularly as it is behind one of the men’s houses, all the children play together here.”

Police have been working with the Coastguard, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, local residents and other groups to scour the area.

Officers on board a Kent Police search boat, which was carrying sonar equipment, are searching through thick vegetation which flanks much of the river.

A Facebook page called Search For Lucas said he was wearing a black and red striped T-shirt with white shorts.

Volunteers were warned about their own safety and told by police to stay away from the water’s edge, work in groups, and make sure they had phones.

A drone, helicopter, and a search and rescue dog named Buzz have been used in the search.

Emergency services say they have been “inundated with offers of support” and held a briefing this morning to agree a search plan. They have also asked that anyone not at the briefing stays away for safety reasons.

The waterways have been closed off from boats and canoes “to allow the water to remain as still as possible and to enable the search and rescue teams to carry out their work”.

Assistant Director for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Chris Colgan, said yesterday: “We’re all incredibly grateful to everyone who has given everything today to try and locate this little boy.

“Our thoughts are with him and his family tonight at this very difficult and emotional time.”

Small groups searched land alongside the river overnight but they had been warned to take safety precautions such as working in pairs, keeping in contact with others, carrying a torch and keeping to the main tracks.

Superintendent Amanda Tillotson at Kent Police said: “While we appreciate the support we have received from members of the public who wish to help in the search, we would strongly advise people to stay away from the water.

“This is for their own safety and to ensure those working within the emergency services can focus solely on locating the missing boy.”

Anyone who wishes to report any details regarding the incident should call Kent Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

(c) Sky News 2019: Emergency services search for six-year-old boy who fell into river in Sandwich, Kent