Police in Leicester say they have seen CCTV footage showing moment two-year-old boy fell into river
The boy was with his family when he fell into the river early on Sunday evening and his father tried to save him.
Tuesday 20 February 2024 15:21, UK
Police searching for a two-year-old boy who fell into a Leicestershire river say they have CCTV footage which they believe shows the moment he fell into the water.
The child was with his family at the Aylestone Meadows local nature reserve, on the outskirts of Leicester, just after 5pm on Sunday, when he fell into the River Soar.
Leicestershire Police said the youngster's father went into the river to try to rescue him, but the boy was not located "despite the best efforts of those at the scene".
Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr, who is leading the search for the boy, gave an update at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
"We have now recovered CCTV imagery that we believe shows the moment when the little boy disappeared into the water and we have been able to establish some further information from dog walkers and members of the local community," she said.
ACC Kerr said the CCTV footage allowed the police to be "really clear about the circumstances and exactly where the little boy went into the river".
She added the police's "number one priority" was "recovering that little boy and making sure that the family are well supported".
"It must be the most harrowing time for them," the assistant chief constable added.
Leicestershire police have said the search has been made challenging by poor weather conditions, but fellow officers from West Mercia, Kent and the Metropolitan Police forces are helping them.
There are also divers in the water searching for the boy, as well as marine recovery dogs searching the area.
Police helicopters have also been part of the search.
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On Monday, police said the child's father had entered the water in an "attempt to try and get the child".
The man was taken to hospital as a "precautionary measure", but has now been discharged.
ACC Kerr concluded the news conference by saying there was "nothing to suggest anything except… this is a tragic set of circumstances where a little boy is in the water, and we need to find that little boy and return him to his family".
Police are still urging anyone with any information that may assist officers to contact the force immediately.