At least 17 people have died after getting into difficulty in open water during the recent heatwave in the UK as Police confirm a body has been recovered by search teams searching for an 11-year-old boy.
From South Yorkshire Police:
Teams searching for Mackenzie Swift in the River Don near Mexborough have sadly found a body.
The 48-hour search, which comprised specialist knowledge, skills, and equipment from South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, underwater search, and mountain rescue, came to an end shortly before 11pm last night.
Mackenzie’s family have been informed and have the offer of specialist support. Formal identification will take place in due course.
Mackenzie had last been seen entering the River Don near Mexborough on Saturday evening, and the alarm was raised when he was not seen to emerge.
Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp – the district commander for Doncaster, said: “First and foremost, on behalf of all who have been involved in the operation to find Mackenzie since Saturday, I send deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and I know the impact this news will have on the wider community and particularly Mackenzie’s school.
“The search for Mackenzie has been a real multi-agency effort and, while SYP are thankful to our emergency service colleagues and the underwater search team, I would like to take a moment to recognise Woodhead Mountain Rescue. While highly trained and skilled, many of their team are volunteers who give up their time to help search teams when they need it most.
“I would also like to thank the local community, who enabled us to conduct our search and recovery with very few onlookers and cameras to give Mackenzie and his family the dignity they deserve. Not only for that, but also for the offers of assistance – we knew we had many members of the public willing to do anything they could to help.”
