The father of a two-year-old boy who went missing after falling into a river in Leicester attempted to save his son, according to police. The incident occurred at the River Soar in the Aylestone area around 17:00 GMT on Sunday. Despite the efforts of emergency services, including water rescue teams, the boy was not found. More specialist teams joined the search on Monday.
The father was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and has since been discharged. Leicestershire Police stated that the family is receiving support from officers during this challenging time.
Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr emphasized the importance of locating the boy and thanked the public for their support. She also warned about the current dangers of the area and advised the public to stay away for their safety.
Support is being provided by Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire police forces, along with national resources. Specialist divers are searching the river, and aerial technology is being used to help locate the boy.
A 65-year-old nurse, who was on a bridge over the river at the time, witnessed a man entering the water. She attempted to warn him due to the strong current. Sarah Gilbert, a local resident, described the incident as distressing and said it had deeply affected the community.
Sue Pyecroft, who was walking her dog nearby when the boy fell in, noted the powerful current due to flooding. The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the River Soar in Leicestershire shortly before 11:30, advising people to avoid low-lying footpaths near local watercourses and contact with flood water.
