Boy, 12, drowns in River Lea at Hackney Marshes

A tragic incident occurred in north-east London when a 12-year-old boy drowned in the River Lea near the Hackney Marshes. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to emergency calls shortly after 18:00 BST on Saturday reporting someone in the water. Along with the Metropolitan Police, crews carried out an extensive search throughout the evening.

The boy’s body was located by police divers around 00:15 BST on Sunday. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently being treated as unexpected by the Metropolitan Police, who have informed his next of kin and are providing them with support through specialist officers.

Expressing her sorrow, the Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, conveyed her heartbreak at the young boy’s death. She extended her condolences to the family and friends, emphasizing the devastating impact on the local community. Garbett also praised the emergency teams for their prompt and thorough response, asking the public to respect the family’s privacy as they cope with their tremendous loss.

The investigation is being overseen on behalf of the coroner, with Detective Inspector Azmeen Pinnu leading the inquiries. Det Insp Pinnu stated: “This is a deeply tragic incident and our thoughts are with the boy’s family, friends and the wider community.” The London Fire Brigade deployed resources from several fire stations including Homerton, Leyton, and Leytonstone, as well as specialist units from Edmonton and Bethnal Green, and utilized their drone team during the search. Firefighters left the scene just after 21:30 on Saturday

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