The Metropolitan Police have launched a search operation for an 11-year-old schoolgirl who “slipped and fell” into the River Thames.
Officers were called to reports of a child who had entered the water near Woolwich, London, at 1.15pm this afternoon.
Emergency services formed a “large-scale response” to the incident, though it has since been scaled back.
Her family have been made aware and are being supported by officers.
Officers were called to report that the child entered the water near Woolwich, London, at 1.15pm this afternoon
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The London Ambulance Service also attended the scene after receiving a report of a person in the water at Lowestoft Mews.
The rescue operation also involved London Fire Department, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a Border Force Viper boat and a search and rescue helicopter.
Responsibility has now been “left with the police”, after all other emergency services concluded their searches.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson earlier said: “Police were called at around 1.15pm on Monday, 31 March to reports of an 11-year-old girl who had entered the River Thames near to Barge House Causeway, E16.
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“A large scale response is ongoing, supported by all emergency services, working together to conduct an extensive search in efforts to locate her.
“Her next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by officers.”
The search has now been ongoing for over five hours.
A mother said she carried a life ring to the Thames shoreline to try and save the 11-year-old girl who had entered the water, but she was unable to find the child.
The 11-year-old entered the river near Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport
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Lifelong area resident Kerry Benadjaoud, 62, said: “My neighbour next door, she was outside doing her garden and there was two little kids running, and they said 'my friend's in the water'."
The neighbour called Benadjaoud, who said she then went to pick up a nearby life ring.
A man told her that he had called the police, she said, adding: “But he said at the time he could see her (the girl’s) hands going down. So, by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn’t find her.”
Benadjaoud said she found shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and handed the items to the police.
