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| Ben Needham 'killed in accident' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Toddler Ben Needham "most likely" died in an accident near to where he disappeared in 1991, police have said. | Toddler Ben Needham "most likely" died in an accident near to where he disappeared in 1991, police have said. |
| Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island of Kos. | Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island of Kos. |
| An "item" believed to have been in Ben's possession at the time was found during fresh searches. | An "item" believed to have been in Ben's possession at the time was found during fresh searches. |
| South Yorkshire Police said the current line of inquiry, that Ben was killed accidentally, was the most probable cause for the boy's disappearance. | South Yorkshire Police said the current line of inquiry, that Ben was killed accidentally, was the most probable cause for the boy's disappearance. |
| Read more about this story and others from across Sheffield and South Yorkshire | Read more about this story and others from across Sheffield and South Yorkshire |
| The force said it remained committed to the investigation into Ben's disappearance and stressed the case remained open. | The force said it remained committed to the investigation into Ben's disappearance and stressed the case remained open. |
| Det Insp Jon Cousins, who is leading the inquiry, said: "During the course of the inquiries we have made over the last 19 months, we have closed off a large number of theories about what happened to Ben, many of which have been open for over 20 years. | Det Insp Jon Cousins, who is leading the inquiry, said: "During the course of the inquiries we have made over the last 19 months, we have closed off a large number of theories about what happened to Ben, many of which have been open for over 20 years. |
| "My team and I know that machinery, including a large digger, was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farmhouse that was being renovated by the Needhams. | "My team and I know that machinery, including a large digger, was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farmhouse that was being renovated by the Needhams. |
| "It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing." | "It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing." |
| The information that prompted the fresh searches was revealed to police following television appeals in May. | The information that prompted the fresh searches was revealed to police following television appeals in May. |
| A friend of a digger driver, who was clearing land with an excavator on the day the toddler went missing, said the man may have been responsible for Ben's death. | A friend of a digger driver, who was clearing land with an excavator on the day the toddler went missing, said the man may have been responsible for Ben's death. |
| The driver, Konstantinos Barkas, died of cancer in 2015. | The driver, Konstantinos Barkas, died of cancer in 2015. |
| A team of 19 South Yorkshire Police officers, forensic specialists, an archaeologist and search and rescue personnel have spent 21 days digging near the farmhouse and a second site 750m away. | A team of 19 South Yorkshire Police officers, forensic specialists, an archaeologist and search and rescue personnel have spent 21 days digging near the farmhouse and a second site 750m away. |
| Det Insp Cousins said an item, found on Saturday close to an item dated to 1991, had been shown to the Needham family. | Det Insp Cousins said an item, found on Saturday close to an item dated to 1991, had been shown to the Needham family. |
| "It is our initial understanding that this item was in Ben's possession around the time he went missing," he said. | "It is our initial understanding that this item was in Ben's possession around the time he went missing," he said. |
| "The recovery of this item, and its location, further adds to my belief that material was removed from the farmhouse on or shortly after the day that Ben disappeared." | "The recovery of this item, and its location, further adds to my belief that material was removed from the farmhouse on or shortly after the day that Ben disappeared." |
| The Needham family, who have long believed Ben may have been abducted, have been fully informed of the force's findings. | The Needham family, who have long believed Ben may have been abducted, have been fully informed of the force's findings. |
| Speaking to the Daily Mirror before the police briefing, Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, said: "They know he's dead but just can't find him. | Speaking to the Daily Mirror before the police briefing, Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, said: "They know he's dead but just can't find him. |
| "Police said it's time we ended our 25-year search. They are right but I can't say goodbye knowing he's still on that island somewhere. I feel physically sick. I can't feel any worse than I do." | "Police said it's time we ended our 25-year search. They are right but I can't say goodbye knowing he's still on that island somewhere. I feel physically sick. I can't feel any worse than I do." |
| She said she just wanted to "tear up" the whole island. | She said she just wanted to "tear up" the whole island. |
| "Someone knows where he is. For God's sake, help me find him. We know he's dead but we need to find him. When someone dies you find a special place." | "Someone knows where he is. For God's sake, help me find him. We know he's dead but we need to find him. When someone dies you find a special place." |
| Det Insp Cousins said: "Our thoughts are with the family as they are given time to digest this and they have our full and continued support. | Det Insp Cousins said: "Our thoughts are with the family as they are given time to digest this and they have our full and continued support. |
| "Our drive has always been the family, and their welfare." | "Our drive has always been the family, and their welfare." |