Leicestershire Police give update on search for missing toddler who fell into River Soar
Officers say searches continued over the weekend 'and will do so this week'
Leicestershire Police have issued an update on the search operation to locate a two-year-old boy who fell into the River Soar.
Officers say searches continued over the weekend 'and will do so this week'.
They say at around 5pm on Sunday 18 February, a report was received to police stating Xielo Maruziva had fallen into the river in Aylestone Meadows, close to Marsden Lane.
As part of ongoing efforts to locate him, the search parameter has since been widened, with the operation focussing on the stretch of river around Watermead Park and Birstall over the weekend.
Officers from the force say they continue to be supported by specialist diving teams from Nottinghamshire Police and Lincolnshire Police, as well as other forces and search and rescue teams from across the region and country.
Support in the air has also been provided by the National Police Air Service (NPAS), with extra support being provided, from tomorrow (February 27) by Specialist Group International (SGI).
Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “We continue to be grateful to the support we’ve been shown by the public and colleagues from other forces and agencies.
“We’re in regular contact with Xielo’s family and are continuing to support them in what remains a very upsetting time. Our search operation to locate Xielo continues to widen as we know he may have travelled further from where he went into the water – and potentially outside our force area.
“I would like to reassure you that our operation is continuing and our teams will be carrying out co-ordinated searches at various points along the river. Our decision to involve SGI in the search in liaison with Xielo’s family and having spoken to both the company and independent specialists.
“I’d also like to remind the public that the river is dangerous and that they should not go into the water themselves. Thank you.”