Man charged with murder after baby pulled from river in Manchester
The baby boy was rescued from the River Irwell in Manchester by firefighters on Wednesday but died later in hospital.
Friday 13 September 2019 21:39, UK
A man has been charged with murder after the death of a baby boy who had to be pulled from a river.
Zak Eko, 22, has been charged with murder following the death of Zakari William Bennett-Eko, who was 11 months old.
The baby boy was rescued from the River Irwell in Manchester by firefighters on Wednesday afternoon.
Police were called to the scene, near Blackburn Street in Radcliffe, at 4.25pm after reports of a child in the water.
Zakari was pulled out and taken to hospital but he died a short time later.
Eko has been remanded into custody and will appear in Manchester Magistrates Court later.
In an emotional post on Facebook, Zakari's mother Emma Blood said she only discovered her son had died when she arrived at A&E.
Extracts from the post said: "I lost my baby today.
"I love my little boy and did everything for him.
"I didn't know my child was dead until I got to A&E.
"We sat with him for hours, we held him, we kissed him.
"I wish I was dead instead.
"Let me grieve for my child, my whole world and so much more."
Greater Manchester Police said there was a "significant number of witnesses to what happened" and urged anyone with information to come forward "to help us get answers for this little boy's loved ones".
A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Friday.
Mourners have left cards, flowers and teddy bears at the bridge, near to where the baby was rescued.
One card read: "To a beautiful little boy. Sleep tight little man. Our thoughts are with your family. From all of us at Lidl Radcliffe."
Another said: "Goodnight and God Bless beautiful innocent boy. Fly high Angel."