Tragic discovery in River Stour search for missing Lucas Dobson

Lucas Dobson Photo Maciee Stanford

A body has been found during the search for six year old Lucas Dobson who fell into the River Stour at Sandwich on Saturday (August 17).

The family of Lucas have been informed and are being supported by Kent Police officers. (UPDATE: Lucas’ uncle Lewis Tolman says identity has been confirmed. He added: “Kent as a community has touched my heart and the uk and even the world. Thank you all so much.”)

Chief Inspector Mark Weller of Kent Police said: “This is a deeply tragic and upsetting incident for all concerned, and Lucas’ family are understandably devastated.

“We were inundated with offers of assistance from members of the public, who turned out in large numbers to help search for Lucas. I know his family are very grateful and touched by the support provided, and I too would like to offer my own personal thanks.

“I would also like to recognise the efforts of our partners from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and others who assisted in the search for Lucas.’

Initial enquiries are continuing but the  death is not being treated as suspicious.

The upsetting discovery comes in the fifth day of a huge search at the River Stour which involved emergency services, search and rescue teams and hundreds of volunteers.

Lucas had been fishing with his dad and friends. His aunt Maciee Standford said the youngster, from Deal, fell in between the jetty and the boat. Despite his dad and adults in the group immediately going in the water to find him, he disappeared.

Emergency services worked together to coordinate a search that took in land, the river banks and along and in the water of the River Stour near Sandwich. The coordinated search by the emergency services, partner agencies and charities involved specialist and experienced search and rescue teams.

 

9 Comments

  1. My heart goes out to the family and also to the brave people searching for Lucas. It must have been a terrible time for them also. What a responsibility ,????????????

  2. Bless Lucas’ family and all the people who came out to help find him. A tragic ending to an innocent fishing trip and heart wrenching for everyone. May he now run free in heaven.

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