The search for missing six year old Lucas Dobson has entered its third day.
Specialist search workers will again be using sonar scanning equipment at the River Stour and the diving team will continue their search.
Lucas, from Deal, fell in the river on Saturday (August 17) at around 1.20pm while out fishing with his dad and friends.
Lucas’s aunt Maciee Standford said the youngster fell in the gap between the jetty and the boat. Despite his dad and adults in the group immediately going in the water to find him, he disappeared.
A one mile exclusion zone is in place on the river around the scrap yard at Richborough Road to prevent any form of public water vessel like canoes or boats with engines entering the primary search zone. This is to allow the water to remain as still as possible and to enable the search and rescue teams to carry out their work.
St Mary’s Church in Sandwich is open to provide refreshments for searchers.
The specialist and experienced search and rescue teams from Kent’s emergency services, partner agencies and charities including KFRS, Kent Police, the Coastguard, Kent Search and Rescue and the RNLI are involved in the operation.
Desperate family members have been holding on to the hope that Lucas will be returned to them safely.
His cousin Chloee Martin said: “This is my little cousin and I’m so thankful and appreciate everyone help. I really hope he’s found and safe. It’s horrible not knowing and thinking all sorts. We just need him back in his parents’ arms.”
His aunt Maciee said: “What an amazing turn out today, thank you everyone so so much, we appreciate every single ounce of help we get.
“We will continue the search for our darling Lucas.”
Photo Tyrone Keen
A Kent Search and Rescue spokesperson said: “Our search teams in Sandwich continue, alongside Kent Police, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, Coastguard, RNLI and many other amazing volunteers to search for Lucas.
“Our thoughts are with his parents, family, friends and community at this time. We ask for members of the public to continue to remain safe and call 999 if they have any information which may support us in this search.”
Superintendent Amanda Tillotson said a positive outcome is now ‘unlikely’ but the search will continue.
She said: ““This is understandably a very difficult and upsetting time for Lucas’s family and our officers are continuing to support them.”
Read here: The search for Lucas
I dont like to sound negative so please dont take thisthe wrong way but i was decussion thus awful news with my mum weve lived inminster kent all our life fished at stour river with my uncles from a young age someone my mum new was smimming in there any got pulled off by current and was found at stourmouth a week later just wondering if a search has been done that end of the river sorry to write sad news but i though it may help with the search feel for the whole family its awful many reguards
Was thinking the same x