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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Body found in sea search for girl | Body found in sea search for girl |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police searching for a 10-year-old girl who disappeared in the sea off an Essex beach believe they have found her body. | Police searching for a 10-year-old girl who disappeared in the sea off an Essex beach believe they have found her body. |
| Stella Akanbi, from Milton Keynes, had been playing with a friend in the sea in Clacton on Sunday afternoon when they got into trouble. | Stella Akanbi, from Milton Keynes, had been playing with a friend in the sea in Clacton on Sunday afternoon when they got into trouble. |
| An onlooker pulled one of the girls ashore but could not find Stella. | An onlooker pulled one of the girls ashore but could not find Stella. |
| Police said a body had been found and while formal identification had not taken place it was believed to be that of Stella. | Police said a body had been found and while formal identification had not taken place it was believed to be that of Stella. |
| The search has now been called off. | The search has now been called off. |
| Stella was in Clacton on a day trip from Buckinghamshire with her friend and her friend's parents. | Stella was in Clacton on a day trip from Buckinghamshire with her friend and her friend's parents. |
| Both girls were playing near a groyne, a sea defence barrier built at a right angle to the beach. | Both girls were playing near a groyne, a sea defence barrier built at a right angle to the beach. |
| Holidaymakers describe their shock at what happened | Holidaymakers describe their shock at what happened |
| Stella's mother travelled to Clacton from Milton Keynes on Sunday night to meet police and watch the search progressing. | Stella's mother travelled to Clacton from Milton Keynes on Sunday night to meet police and watch the search progressing. |
| An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police can now confirm that the Essex Police helicopter spotted the body of a child in the water off Clacton at about 1545 BST this afternoon (17 August) and the RNLI lifeboat has recovered the body. | |
| "Formal identification is still to take place but police believe that it is that of a 10-year-old from the Milton Keynes area, who got into difficulties in the sea on Sunday afternoon. | "Formal identification is still to take place but police believe that it is that of a 10-year-old from the Milton Keynes area, who got into difficulties in the sea on Sunday afternoon. |
| "Her family has been informed and are being supported by police liaison officers." | "Her family has been informed and are being supported by police liaison officers." |
| Thames Coastguard watch manager Aimee Rampton said: "We feel deeply sorry for the family at this time and our sympathies are with Stella's parents. | |
| "We would like to thank the general public for their help and assistance in this very sad matter." | |
| Lifeboats launched | Lifeboats launched |
| Police said there would be an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. | Police said there would be an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. |
| Two helicopters, a coastguard rescue team and an inshore lifeboat were launched as part of the search of the area after Stella went missing in the sea opposite Trafalgar Road, off Marine Parade West. | Two helicopters, a coastguard rescue team and an inshore lifeboat were launched as part of the search of the area after Stella went missing in the sea opposite Trafalgar Road, off Marine Parade West. |
| An RAF rescue helicopter, from Wattisham, Suffolk, and a police helicopter scoured the area. | An RAF rescue helicopter, from Wattisham, Suffolk, and a police helicopter scoured the area. |
| Rescue workers in dry suits also searched the shallow water. | Rescue workers in dry suits also searched the shallow water. |
| Stella has two siblings, a four-year-old sister and a nine-year-old brother who are being looked after by family friends. | Stella has two siblings, a four-year-old sister and a nine-year-old brother who are being looked after by family friends. |
| The rescued girl and member of the public who pulled her from the water were taken to Clacton and District Hospital. | The rescued girl and member of the public who pulled her from the water were taken to Clacton and District Hospital. |
| Police said the girl, who is with her mother, was now at Colchester General Hospital where she is recovering from shock. | Police said the girl, who is with her mother, was now at Colchester General Hospital where she is recovering from shock. |