Boy, 12, drowns in River Lea after body recovered by police divers

Boy, 12, drowns in River Lea after body recovered by police divers Police divers have recovered the body of a 12-year-old boy following reports of person in the River Lea near Hackney Marshes, north-east London A 12-year-old boy has tragically drowned with his body recovered from a river in London. London Fire Brigade was called to reports of a person in the water in the River Lea near Hackney Marshes, north-east London, just after 6pm on Saturday. Specialist Fire rescue units were deployed from Edmonton and Bethnal Green fire stations, as well as a drone team. And the body of a boy was recovered by police divers shortly after midnight on Sunday with the youngster declared dead at the scene. A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Sadly, a boy has drowned in the River Lea, near the Hackney Marshes. "Firefighters were called to reports of a person in the water and crews carried out a systematic search of the river alongside officers from the Metropolitan Police Service. Sadly, a boy was declared dead at the scene, following the recovery of a body by police divers." Paying tribute to the boy, Mayor of Hackney Zoë Garbett said it was a "devastating loss for our community" and urged members of the public not to "speculate" as an investigation into the incident continues. The Mayor said: “We were heartbroken to learn about the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy at Hackney Marshes this weekend. All of our thoughts are with the child’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. “This is a devastating loss for our community, and I know many will be feeling a deep sense of shock and sadness. The boy’s family will need time to grieve this unimaginable loss, so please respect their privacy. “I want to thank the emergency services for their rapid response and the extensive efforts they made throughout the night. As the investigation into this tragic incident continues, please avoid sharing speculation on social media.” The Mirror has launched the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to tackle the UK's growing drowning crisis. Backed by MPs, Olympic champions, national water safety organisations and bereaved families, the campaign is calling for urgent action to make our waters safer. That includes compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam's Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety. Find out more about the campaign and how you can support it here.