An 11-year-old girl is missing after being seen paddling in the River Thames, prompting a large-scale search operation by emergency services.
An 11-year-old girl is currently missing after she was seen paddling in the River Thames near Barge House Causeway, close to London City Airport, at approximately 13:15 BST on Monday. According to reports from residents in the area, the girl had been enjoying a day off from school, playing in the water alongside two other children, one of whom was a young boy.
Kerry Benadjaoud, a local resident, told the Press Association that she discovered several personal items near the river, including shoes, a sock, a coat, and a mobile phone, which she subsequently handed over to the police. In response to the situation, the Metropolitan Police initiated a “large-scale response” involving various emergency services, including HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and the London Fire Brigade (LFB). Search efforts, which included boats and helicopters, were deployed on the river.
Residents described witnessing the events unfold. Ms. Benadjaoud recounted a heart-wrenching comment from the young boy who had been playing with the missing girl, stating, “I tried to hold her hand but it slipped.” She expressed concern for the boy’s wellbeing and suggested that he should speak to someone to help him process the trauma of the incident.
Another local, Shaleen Rajaendram, recounted hearing a man screaming from a balcony nearby, saying ‘wait there, wait, the police is coming,’ as he tried to assist the children who were in distress. Ms. Rajaendram later conversed with the children, who had emerged from the nearby bridge, and learned that the girl had gone underwater and could not be found.
The Barge House Causeway, where the incident occurred, is a concrete slope leading directly into the River Thames and is commonly used for transporting boats. Several residents noted that the slope was slippery, covered with moss, which may have contributed to the girl’s fall into the water.
Although the emergency services initially launched an extensive search effort, they were later stood down, suggesting that no new leads had emerged in the quest for the missing child. The situation continues to unfold as authorities work to locate the girl and gather more information from witnesses.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/search-girl-falls-into-river-thames-b1219902.html – This article corroborates the report of an 11-year-old girl falling into the River Thames and the subsequent search efforts by emergency services.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/search-girl-falls-into-river-thames-b1219902.html – It also confirms that the search was scaled back due to a lack of new leads in finding the missing child.
- https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Barge+House+Causeway/@51.504511,-0.000209,17z/data=!3m14b14m53m41s0x487603235ad2f5f5:0x594b03231315376a8m23d51.5045114d-0.000209 – This link provides geographical context, showing Barge House Causeway’s location near London City Airport and the River Thames.
- https://www.rnli.org.uk/ – This is the official website of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which was involved in the search efforts along the River Thames.
- https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/ – This website represents the London Fire Brigade (LFB), another agency participating in the large-scale response to the incident.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative does not include specific dates or events that could be checked against previous coverage. However, it mentions current emergency responses, suggesting it is relatively recent. The URL provided from the BBC typically hosts up-to-date news, which supports the recentness of the information.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes provided appear to be original, as there is no evidence they have been used previously in other reports or articles. The context suggests these are first-hand accounts from witnesses.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the BBC, which is widely regarded as a reputable and reliable news source.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The events described, including the emergency response and personal items found, are plausible given the circumstances. However, without further details or updates, some aspects remain unverified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and well-sourced from a reliable outlet. The quotes seem original, enhancing credibility. While plausibility is generally high, some aspects remain unverified due to the ongoing nature of the incident.
