Divers find body of boy, 15, in River Tees

Divers find body of boy, 15, in River Tees after huge overnight search sparked when he started struggling in the water

  • Search launched after teenage boy got into difficulty in water near Broken Scar 
  • Durham Police confirmed this morning that a body was recovered at midnight 
  • Identification not yet taken place but is believed to be the missing 15-year-old  

Divers have recovered the body of a teenage boy from the River Tees following an overnight search for a child who got into difficulty in the water. 

The alarm was raised at around 5pm on Monday after the 15-year-old entered the water at Broken Scar in Darlington.

A major search was launched involving Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, the North East Ambulance Service, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team and underwater search teams.

Durham Police confirmed this morning a body was found in the river just before midnight.

Formal identification has yet to take place but it is believed to be the body of the missing 15-year-old boy.

Divers have recovered the body of a teenage boy from the River Tees following an overnight search amid reports he had got into difficulty in the water. Pictured: Rescue teams last night

Durham Police said the alarm was raised shortly after 5pm on Monday after the 15-year-old entered the water at Broken Scar in Darlington. Pictured: Police at the scene

Durham Police said the alarm was raised shortly after 5pm on Monday after the 15-year-old entered the water at Broken Scar in Darlington. Pictured: Police at the scene

In a statement, the force said: ‘We are sorry to report a body has been found in the River Tees at Broken Scar, Darlington.

‘A multi-agency search operation was launched shortly after 5pm yesterday following reports a teenager had gone into the river and had got into difficulty.

‘Sadly, a body was found shortly before midnight. 

‘His family have been informed and are being supported and our thoughts are with them at this tragic time.

‘His death is not being treated as suspicious.’          

The teenager is one of several Britons to have died in accidents amid sweltering temperatures this month, including a mother who drowned in Norfolk after leaping into the sea to save her son and his friend.

The force confirmed this morning a body was found in the river just before midnight

The force confirmed this morning a body was found in the river just before midnight

Formal identification has yet to take place but it is believed to be the body of the missing 15-year-old boy. Pictured: Broken Scar in Darlington

Formal identification has yet to take place but it is believed to be the body of the missing 15-year-old boy. Pictured: Broken Scar in Darlington

Danielle Chilvers, 37, was pulled lifeless from the water after being caught out by the strong current at Waxham on August 9. 

Horrified onlookers tried in vain to resuscitate her before paramedics took over, but she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. 

The tragedy came after Ava Gray, 12, died after getting into difficulty in a river in Scotland on the same day.   

Her body was pulled from the River Leven in the West Dunbartonshire village of Balloch following a three-hour search.

The teenager is one of several Britons to have died in accidents amid sweltering temperatures this month, including a mother who drowned in Norfolk after leaping into the sea to save her son and his friend. Pictured: Danielle Chilvers

The teenager is one of several Britons to have died in accidents amid sweltering temperatures this month, including a mother who drowned in Norfolk after leaping into the sea to save her son and his friend. Pictured: Danielle Chilvers

Ava Gray, 12, died after getting into difficulty in a river in Scotland on August 9

Ava Gray, 12, died after getting into difficulty in a river in Scotland on August 9 

Police Scotland officers were called to the scene at the foot of Loch Lomond at about 6.45pm, but the search ended with Ava’s body being recovered from the water at 9.45pm. 

Elsewhere, a man in his 60s was killed amid soaring temperatures on August 10. His body was pulled from the water at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex at around 10.30am and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a fourth tragedy, mother Jane Walker died in a crash between a jet ski and a boat on the Menai Strait in North Wales on August 8.            

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