Girl, 9, 'slipped and fell' into Thames while playing with cousin beside river
The girl, named locally as 'Bia' and believed to be nine years old, was playing with her cousin near the River Thames in Gravesend, Kent when she fell into the water on Friday
A girl who tragically died after slipping and falling into the River Thames had been playing with her cousin near the water.
The child, named on social media as "Bia" and believed to be nine years old, died after entering the water at the Royal Pier Road in Gravesend, Kent at around 1.40pm on Friday. Kent Police said her body was recovered from the river yesterday morning after a search involving police's marine units, the Coastguard helicopter and lifeboats.
Devastated members of her family, reportedly from Romania, say she "had her whole life ahead of her" but "but she had the life that was decided by God." Last night, relative Mirela Turcanu posted on social media: "Oh, she left us speechless, this little girl had her whole life ahead of her, but she had the life that was decided by God. Smooth road to heaven, my niece."
Leon Alkapone described the girl as "my niece, my beautiful angel" while another post said: "Rest In Peace, Little Angel, Bia. May God comfort the grieving family." Emergency services were called to the Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend at 1.46pm on Friday.
Police said two children, a boy and a girl, had got into difficulty in the water but the boy - believed to be seven - was later pulled from the river. At 11.40am on Saturday, a body was recovered from the river, near Gravesend and formal identification by the girl's next of kin took place. Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
It is understood Bia was playing with her cousin near the water when she slipped and the current pulled her in. The boy was saved from the water during the initial search remains at a local hospital in a stable condition.
Gravesham MP Dr Lauren Sullivan posted a statement on social media on Saturday afternoon, offering her "deepest condolences" to the family. The Labour MP said: "I am deeply saddened to hear that a body has been recovered in the search for the girl who went missing in the River Thames in Gravesend.
"I would like to thank emergency services, including the coastguard, Kent Police, the RNLI, and PLA many others for their efforts in the search. I know there are many opinions circulating at this time about the circumstances surrounding this tragic event and from speaking to the authorities it is right that there is an investigation, as with all sad circumstances such as these, but at the heart of this is a family and community in grief which I hope everyone can respect. I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the child, and keep them all in my thoughts at this time."