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Search resumes for boy in river | Search resumes for boy in river |
(21 minutes later) | |
Rescue teams are resuming their search for a nine-year-old boy who fell into a fast-flowing river in Snowdonia while holidaying in the area on Monday. | |
Sean Laxen, from Norwich, is understood to have slipped into the river near the Conwy Falls at Betws-y-Coed, while walking with his mother and brother. | Sean Laxen, from Norwich, is understood to have slipped into the river near the Conwy Falls at Betws-y-Coed, while walking with his mother and brother. |
Police said around 40 people were searching the river and its banks, and the operation may run into Wednesday. | |
It is understood the boy's family saw him slip and then get swept away. | |
Roger Jones from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said it was a treacherous stretch of river. | Roger Jones from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said it was a treacherous stretch of river. |
At the moment we are still hopeful, we are still searching the areas and we are still looking for this young boy Inspector Mike Owen | |
"This area's got very steep wooded sides, so access is difficult - it's very, very steep indeed," he said. | "This area's got very steep wooded sides, so access is difficult - it's very, very steep indeed," he said. |
"In full spate, the water can be 15 feet up these sheer walls so it's a very nasty place." | "In full spate, the water can be 15 feet up these sheer walls so it's a very nasty place." |
After being alerted on Monday afternoon, divers using thermal imaging cameras underwater continued looking for the boy until about 0115 BST on Tuesday morning. | |
On Tuesday, Inspector Mike Owen from North Wales Police said underwater teams have been searching the river again, while mountain rescue teams and search dogs combed the river banks. | |
He added: "Once we completed the search last night, we identified four areas we will go back and research to make sure that nothing has happened with any water course flows. | |
'Deeply concerned' | 'Deeply concerned' |
"From that we will recheck the banks to make sure every area has been checked at least three times." | "From that we will recheck the banks to make sure every area has been checked at least three times." |
Mr Owen said that rescue teams were "still hopeful". | Mr Owen said that rescue teams were "still hopeful". |
The underwater search team has been assisted by experts from Plas y Brenin, a mountain activity centre, as well as local people doing bank searches. | The underwater search team has been assisted by experts from Plas y Brenin, a mountain activity centre, as well as local people doing bank searches. |
The river Conwy is believed to be swollen after recent rainfall. | The river Conwy is believed to be swollen after recent rainfall. |
Farmer Heather Hughes joined the search on Monday after hearing a child was missing. | Farmer Heather Hughes joined the search on Monday after hearing a child was missing. |
She said the stretch was very dangerous and also difficult to access, with "deep pools and rocks, where people can get trapped". | She said the stretch was very dangerous and also difficult to access, with "deep pools and rocks, where people can get trapped". |