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| Father is 'praying for miracle' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The father of a 14-year-old boy who went missing in a river in County Antrim on Thursday afternoon has said he is "praying for a miracle". | |
| It is understood James Elliott jumped into the River Bush at Stranocum to rescue a dog and was swept away. | It is understood James Elliott jumped into the River Bush at Stranocum to rescue a dog and was swept away. |
| Dozens of friends and relatives have joined a massive search operation for the boy. | |
| The search has widened out to include a 15-mile stretch of the river from Stranocum to Portballintrae. | |
| His father, another 14-year-old boy and the dog were rescued from the river on Thursday. | |
| James, is a pupil at Dalriada Grammar School in Ballymoney, and a talented footballer with Linfield FC's youth section. | James, is a pupil at Dalriada Grammar School in Ballymoney, and a talented footballer with Linfield FC's youth section. |
| His PE teacher, John Devlin, has been watching the rescue operation and said they were hoping he was still alive. | His PE teacher, John Devlin, has been watching the rescue operation and said they were hoping he was still alive. |
| "This is going to be devastating when we all come back together into school next week," he said. | "This is going to be devastating when we all come back together into school next week," he said. |
| "But we still stand here, hope and cling to the thought that he is hanging on out there. | "But we still stand here, hope and cling to the thought that he is hanging on out there. |
| The search area is along the River Bush from Stranocum to Portballintrae | The search area is along the River Bush from Stranocum to Portballintrae |
| "He is a very gritty individual and we can only just hope and pray at this point." | "He is a very gritty individual and we can only just hope and pray at this point." |
| It is understood James represented Northern Ireland at a youth football tournament last year. | It is understood James represented Northern Ireland at a youth football tournament last year. |
| The principal at Dalriada Grammar School, Tom Skelton, said the teenager, who is to enter Year 11, "wanted to be nothing but a professional football player". | The principal at Dalriada Grammar School, Tom Skelton, said the teenager, who is to enter Year 11, "wanted to be nothing but a professional football player". |
| "He was a very bright, bubbly boy, always full of beans," he said. | "He was a very bright, bubbly boy, always full of beans," he said. |
| "I was just talking to the caretaker this morning who said he was constantly having to retrieve the ball from the roof of the school for him - he loved playing football, he was well-liked by his classmates and held in high regard by the staff. | "I was just talking to the caretaker this morning who said he was constantly having to retrieve the ball from the roof of the school for him - he loved playing football, he was well-liked by his classmates and held in high regard by the staff. |
| "We're absolutely devastated by the news." | "We're absolutely devastated by the news." |
| DUP assembly member Mervyn Storey said the situation looked very bleak. | DUP assembly member Mervyn Storey said the situation looked very bleak. |
| We're absolutely devastated by the news Tom SkeltonSchool principal | We're absolutely devastated by the news Tom SkeltonSchool principal |
| "It is very difficult when you have the situation when you are hoping that it's a rescue but looks more and more like a recovery," he said. | "It is very difficult when you have the situation when you are hoping that it's a rescue but looks more and more like a recovery," he said. |
| Ballymoney mayor Frank Campbell said the river was "running really fast" because of the amount of rain that had fallen in the last few days. | Ballymoney mayor Frank Campbell said the river was "running really fast" because of the amount of rain that had fallen in the last few days. |
| A number of agencies have been involved in the search, including HM Coastguard, the RAF, Bann River Rescue, the Royal Navy and the Fire Service. | A number of agencies have been involved in the search, including HM Coastguard, the RAF, Bann River Rescue, the Royal Navy and the Fire Service. |
| Police search teams and the police helicopter have also been involved. | Police search teams and the police helicopter have also been involved. |