Body found in search for missing boy, 12, who got into difficulty in Lancashire river
The boy was last seen with friends entering the River Ribble in Ribchester at about 2pm on Tuesday
A body has been found in the search for a 12-year-old boy who went missing in a river in Lancashire.
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The boy was last seen with friends entering the River Ribble in Ribchester at about 2pm on Tuesday.
A Lancashire Police force statement said: “The boy, aged 12, had got into difficulty while swimming with friends in the river.
"A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with colleagues from North-West Ambulance Service providing support.
"Very sadly, a body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm.
"While formal identification has not yet taken place, we believe it to be the body of the missing boy.
"His family are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers, and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this extremely distressing time."
Read More: Five dead including four teenagers as health authorities issue heat warning on UK's hottest May day
Local resident Ann-Marie Ruddock had said: "Locals are well aware of the dangers of the river and they tend to keep away from it.
"It's nightmare scenario. I'm just hoping they find him."
Valerie Hodgson, who also lives nearby, said: "For the parents it must be dreadfully worrying.
"When you have had children you try to protect them but on a nice day like today you can't be there all the time can you?"
A 15-year-old girl is also fighting for her life after she was left in a critical condition after getting into difficulties in the water at Formby beach on Monday, Merseyside Police said.
A force spokesman said emergency services were called to the beach at about 3.30pm on the bank holiday.
The girl was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and remains in a critical condition, the spokesman said.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Nuttall said: “We know that Formby beach was exceptionally busy on bank holiday Monday but I would appeal for anyone who witnessed this incident or has any information which could assist our inquiries to get in touch as a matter of urgency.
“Our officers and I would also like to offer our gratitude to the members of the public who came to the assistance of the 15-year-old girl and her family during such tragic circumstances on Formby beach.
“At this stage we believe the girl got into difficulties in the water and members of the public came to her aid.”
It comes as a total of six people have now passed away in water related deaths over the bank holiday.
The heat is due to subside in the coming days although temperatures in London are forecast to reach up to 33C on Wednesday before hovering at 32C on Thursday and Friday.
Tuesday's heat broke records for the hottest May Day after temperatures reached 35.1C in Kew Gardens, south-west London.
Three boys lost their lives in Lincolnshire, West and South Yorkshire, as well as Warwickshire over the weekend.
A 13-year-old boy died in hospital after being pulled from the water at a popular swimming spot in Halifax at around 3.20pm on Monday.
Then hours later, the body of a 16-year-old girl was recovered from a lake at a country park in Warwickshire.
South Yorkshire Police also responded to reports that a teenager had gone into the lake at Rother Valley County Park in Rotherham.
His body was recovered in the early hours of Tuesday. Emergency services recovered his body in the early hours of this morning.
It came a day after 15-year-old Declan Sawyer drowned at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln at around 2.30pm on Sunday.
A man in his 60s also died from cardiac arrest after trying to save a relative who got into difficulty in the water at a Cornish beach on Monday.
The Met Office confirmed Tuesday was the UK's hottest recorded May day in history, with temperatures reaching 35C in Heathrow and Kew Gardens, after the record was beaten on Monday with highs of 34.8C.
An amber health warning has been extended by 24 hours for several regions in England.