Lucas Dobson: Body found in Kent river confirmed as missing six-year-old boy

A body found in a river in Kent has been confirmed as that of six-year-old Lucas Dobson, who fell in during a fishing trip on Saturday.

Lucas was swept away by the current after falling into the River Stour.

Kent Police chief inspector Mark Weller said the body was discovered at around 9.15am on Wednesday and had been formally identified as Lucas.

He said: “It brings an end to our search and I would like to echo Lucas’ family’s message of thanks to those who came out to help search for him in the last few days.

“The community support we have witnessed has been heart-warming, even in the most tragic of circumstances.

“I’d also like to recognise the efforts of our partners from Kent Search and Rescue, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and all the volunteers who assisted in the search for Lucas.

“While the search may have ended, our support to Lucas’ family continues.”

Search teams with sonar had been scouring river banks and waterways in Sandwich to try to find the boy, with more than 100 emergency services staff and 200 volunteers taking part in the operation.

Boats had also been stopped from using the waterways to keep the water as still as possible.

Lucas’s aunt said last week that his father had jumped in after the boy 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.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Lucas Dobson: Body found in Kent river confirmed as missing six-year-old boy