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River Wear search for girls at Fatfield: Body found | River Wear search for girls at Fatfield: Body found |
(35 minutes later) | |
A body has been found by police divers searching the River Wear for two missing teenagers. | A body has been found by police divers searching the River Wear for two missing teenagers. |
Northumbria Police received "concerned" reports of two girls in the water near the viaduct in Fatfield, Washington, just before 15:00 BST. | Northumbria Police received "concerned" reports of two girls in the water near the viaduct in Fatfield, Washington, just before 15:00 BST. |
A spokesman confirmed that the body of a female had been found, but said the search was continuing. | A spokesman confirmed that the body of a female had been found, but said the search was continuing. |
The Fatfield Bridge has been closed and traffic on nearby roads diverted. | The Fatfield Bridge has been closed and traffic on nearby roads diverted. |
Supt Alan Veitch of Northumbria Police said earlier: "There were two people on the banks who saw the children in difficulty. | Supt Alan Veitch of Northumbria Police said earlier: "There were two people on the banks who saw the children in difficulty. |
"One was an off-duty police officer going for a run who dived in and saved a boy who was trying to save one of the missing girls. | "One was an off-duty police officer going for a run who dived in and saved a boy who was trying to save one of the missing girls. |
"Another gentleman dived in and swam the width of the river to get to one of the girls but he came up empty-handed. He was distraught as you can imagine." | "Another gentleman dived in and swam the width of the river to get to one of the girls but he came up empty-handed. He was distraught as you can imagine." |
He said that the river was still tidal at the point where the girls went missing, and there was a lot of debris and foliage in it. | He said that the river was still tidal at the point where the girls went missing, and there was a lot of debris and foliage in it. |
'A right state' | |
Paul Cronin, who lives nearby, said that one of the would-be rescuers had almost drowned in the attempt. | |
He said: "This gentleman came running up towards the park and I thought it was strange because he was dressed in his boxer shorts. | |
"He had just crawled out of the river and had nearly drowned himself. | |
About 100 people were involved in the search, including police, fire crews and a coastguard team. |