THE heartbroken family of a nine-year-old girl who died after entering the River Thames have paid tribute to their “beautiful angel”.
Emergency services had been frantically searching for the child who disappeared under the water by the Royal Terrace Pier, in Gravesend, Kent on May 30.
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She has noe been named on social media as “Bia” and is understood to have been just nine years old.
The alarm was raised at about 1:45pm yesterday after two children got into difficulty in the river.
A young boy was quickly recovered whilst an urgent rescue operation was carried out for the girl.
Devastated members of her family, reportedly from Romania, say she “had her whole life ahead of her” but “but she had the life that was decided by God”.
Last night, relative Mirela Turcanu posted on social media: “Oh, she left us speechless, this little girl had her whole life ahead of her, but she had the life that was decided by God.
“Smooth road to heaven, my niece.”
Leon Alkapone described her as “my niece, my beautiful angel”.
Another post said: “Rest In Peace, Little Angel, Bia. May God comfort the grieving family.”
Metropolitan Police boats and the RNLI were called to assist with the search.
A police helicopter and South East Coast Ambulance Service were also sent to the scene.
Kent Police was called by the Port of London Authority.
