Tragedy as body found in search for missing boy, 12, last seen swimming in river at UK beauty spot

A BODY has been found in the search for a 12-year-old boy who vanished while swimming in a river.

Police launched a frantic search after the youngster disappeared in the River Swale, North Yorkshire, on Saturday evening.

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Police were alerted to the boy’s disappearance shortly after 5pm and rushed to respond.

Officers received reports that the young lad had entered the North Yorkshire river before vanishing.

Cops launched an urgent hunt for the missing child with specialist teams joining the search.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and Mountain Rescue joined the hunt and scoured the banks of the river looking for any sign of the youth.

Members of the public were seen at the popular beauty spot this afternoon as the extensive search operation got underway.

Tragically, a child’s body was found just before 11pm.

Cops said the body was recovered from the water and the missing boy’s family were informed.

Witnesses reported seeing an air ambulance arrive at the scene of the search.

It was then spotted leaving the area a short while later according to reports.

Pictures from the banks of the river show extensive searches underway as emergency services desperately tried to locate the boy.

Teams are said to have focused their search around Richmond Falls, which is a series of waterfalls along the River Swale.

Specialist crews were seen in the water searching the base of one of the waterfalls.

The search recovered a body a short while later, identification is yet to take place, police said.

The lad’s family has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

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Emergency services remain on scene at the river.

The young boy’s death is not being treated as suspicious, according to North Yorkshire Police.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Following further searches of the river, sadly search teams recovered a child’s body from the water at 10.45pm today.

“The body is yet to be identified but the boy’s family have been informed and are receiving support from specially-trained officers.

“Emergency services currently remain at the scene.

“We are not treating the death as suspicious and we are not in a position to share any further information at this time.”