A body has been found in the Trent river in the search for missing 12-year-old Owen Jenkins, who is thought to have entered the water to help two girls in difficulty.
The boy’s family described him as a hero, thanking the emergency services and friends for their help in the search for him.
Search crews were called to a stretch of the river near Beeston Marina in Nottinghamshire at around 6pm on Monday. About 30 firefighters, three power boats, a police helicopter and an air ambulance were called to help in the search.
Nottinghamshire police said a body was discovered in the water at about 10pm. “Our thoughts are with the family during this time,” said a statement.
Liz Ryan, Owen’s great-aunt, described the boy as a “loving, kind, considerate and well mannered lad”. She said he had been playing with friends at the time of the incident.
“He went in the water to save a girl and help her get out, and he couldn’t swim much himself. We don’t know the full story but all we know is that he is a hero,” she said. “He didn’t think of himself.”
Ryan said Owen was a mummy’s boy who had lots of friends. “They were told not to go, ‘don’t go playing down the weir’, and obviously that’s what they do – he only lives around the corner.”
She said Owen’s mother, Nicola, and father, Gary, were devastated by his death, adding that it has been horrendous for the family who joined the search.
“Last night everybody was there … the saddest part was we were told we all had to go because the light was going, the police said they had to just put the helicopters up with the infrared,” said Ryan.
“Then in the next breath he came and said they had found him, and he wasn’t far. It was just seeing that man in the yellow coat and him saying ‘we have found him’, and Nicola said ‘is he dead?’ and he just said ‘yeah’. It hit home then. It was horrible.”
“It is tragic. Apparently he had just got the best record at school for running and two medals. He was just coming into his little youth.”
Ryan added: “All the family would like to thank the rescue teams and all the friends that helped – a lot of people went in.”
Brad O’Riordan, a narrow-boat owner, told the BBC that he arrived at the scene at around 5pm and was told a boy had entered the river to save two girls.
“If you fall into the current the other side of the weir, it’s going to get you,” he said. “It’s a very fast current there, I don’t think the kids realise what they’re getting into when they go into the water.”
