CCTV shows missing toddler fall into river as search enters fourth day

Sergeant Chris Haines, leading the search of River Soar, says his teams cleared a big area “to a high assurance level” yesterday with surface and sonar searches starting again this morning.

He warned locals to stay away from the swollen river adding his teams were working to a strict plan.

He added: “I know it is an emotive subject and people want to help but please leave it to us and don’t put yourself at risk.”

From enquiries conducted so far police have obtained CCTV footage which they believe shows the young boy falling into the water on Sunday.

A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “Yesterday we issued an appeal for people who were in the area during Sunday evening and in particular a dog walker who spoke to officers.

“We have had a great response from the public and our enquiries are continuing.”

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr is leading the police operation. She said: “We have had tremendous support from the local community, and we thank everyone who has assisted with our enquiries.

“This is an extremely difficult time for the family, our thoughts are very much with them, and we continue to support them.

“A number of teams from across the force and region have assisted us during this operation and our priority remains to locate the young boy. Thank you to all our officers and specialist teams who continue to work extremely hard at the scene in what are very difficult circumstance for everyone involved.”

Rising water levels on the River Soar have made searching for the missing two-year-old boy difficult, Leicestershire Police said.

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr, who is leading the police operation, said specialist diving teams had been deployed to help find the toddler.

“Rising water levels made the searches difficult, however we used the resources available to us including NPAS to try and locate the boy,” she said.

“This morning additional specialist teams including dive teams from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Police are being deployed to the scene.”

Leicestershire Police say they have obtained CCTV footage officers believe shows the boy falling into the River Soar.

It comes as the force steps up its search with Kent and West Mercia Police Search and Rescue team and the Metropolitan Police Marine Recovery dogs called into find the boy who fell into the water on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “From enquiries conducted so far and from studying CCTV from the local area we have obtained footage which we believe shows the young boy falling into the water.”

A long-standing resident whose home overlooks Aylestone Meadows said flooding from the River Soar in recent weeks had left parts of the nature reserve in a treacherous state.

She said a helicopter had initially flown over the area for around an hour after reports a two-year-old child had fallen in the river.

The resident told reporters: “It seemed to be there for a long time hovering.

“It felt as if it was above my house. The lights were on and it didn’t move for about an hour or so.”

The woman, who walks regularly in the area, said a nearby canal and the river sometimes “go into one” during peak flooding periods.

“It’s fast-flowing,” she said of current conditions. “It’s been quite bad.

“It’s devastating to think how they (family members) must be feeling.”

Chief Inspector David Stokes, the local policing commander, thanked the community for the remarkable support they had shown since the incident.

“I would like to also say in terms of members of the public – the conditions actually remain really precarious. In terms of the public, please can I ask that you don’t come down to the scene and attempt to do any of your own searches,” he said.

Leicestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr described the two-year-old boy falling into the River Soar as the “worst possible nightmare”.

Confirming that the incident is still being treated as a missing person inquiry, Ms Kerr said: “We have got nothing to suggest anything other than this is a tragic set of circumstances.”

The senior officer said marine recovery dogs were now involved in the searches, while a drone unit is also assisting the operation.