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River Wear search for girls at Fatfield: Body found River Wear search for girls at Fatfield: Two bodies found
(35 minutes later)
A body has been found by police divers searching the River Wear for two missing teenagers. Two bodies have been found by police divers searching the River Wear in Tyne and 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. Passers-by tried to rescue the girls when they were seen to be in difficulty near a 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. Search teams found one body earlier and a police spokesman confirmed the body of a second female had been found.
The Fatfield Bridge has been closed and traffic on nearby roads diverted. About 100 people have been involved in the search, including police, fire crews and a coastguard team.
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. 'Rescuer almost drowned'
'A right state' 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.
Paul Cronin, who lives nearby, said that one of the would-be rescuers had almost drowned in the attempt.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 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. "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. A Northumbria Police spokesman said that the families of both girls had been informed and the search had been scaled down.
He added: "Inquiries will now be carried out into the circumstances surrounding the incident."