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River search locates boy's body | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Rescue teams searching for a nine-year-old boy, swept away in a Snowdonia river, say they have found a body. | |
Sean Laxen, from Norwich, slipped and fell into the river near the Conwy Falls at Betws-y-Coed, while walking with his mother and brother on Monday. | Sean Laxen, from Norwich, slipped and fell into the river near the Conwy Falls at Betws-y-Coed, while walking with his mother and brother on Monday. |
North Wales Police said the boy's body has not yet been formally identified but family have been informed. | |
Around 40 people have been involved in a search of the river and its banks. | |
A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: "At approximately 6.10pm tonight thesearch team at Conwy found the body of a young boy. | |
"No formal identification has been done yet. | |
"At this time we do believe it is the body of the missing boy Sean and thefamily have been informed." | |
The search teams had been concentrating on a small number of deep water pools. | |
Rescuers have described it as a treacherous stretch of river. | Rescuers have described it as 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 | 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," said Roger Jones, from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. | |
"In full spate, the water can be 15ft 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. | After being alerted on Monday afternoon, divers using thermal imaging cameras underwater continued looking for the boy until about 0115 BST on Tuesday morning. |
Earlier on Tuesday, Inspector Mike Owen from North Wales Police said underwater teams had 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. | 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. |
Repeat checks are being carried out along the river | Repeat checks are being carried out along the river |
"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." |
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". |