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Rescue teams search for boy who fell into River Wear Rescue teams search for boy who fell into river Wear
(about 11 hours later)
A major search operation was launched for an eight-year-old boy who fell into a river while playing with friends on Friday evening in County Durham. Police divers and search and rescue parties were searching on Saturday for an eight-year-old boy who fell into a river while playing with friends in County Durham.
Police said the fire service, search and rescue teams and officers from the force were carrying out an "extensive" search of the River Wear, near Willington, where the boy is believed to have fallen from an embankment at about 7pm. Police said the fire service, search and rescue teams and officers from the force were carrying out an "extensive" search of the river Wear, near Willington, where the boy is believed to have fallen from an embankment at about 7pm on Friday evening.
The owner of a pub near to where the boy is believed to have fallen in the river said the area had experienced heavy rainfall during the last week and the River Wear was flooded. The owner of a pub near to where the boy is believed to have fallen in the river said the area had experienced heavy rainfall during the last week and the Wear was flooded.
Janice Larnach, who owns the Brown Trout pub, said: "His brother said he saw him fall in, hang on to a branch and that snapped but he hasn't been found up to now.Janice Larnach, who owns the Brown Trout pub, said: "His brother said he saw him fall in, hang on to a branch and that snapped but he hasn't been found up to now.
"We've had heavy rain for a week. It hasn't rained today but the river's really in flood.""We've had heavy rain for a week. It hasn't rained today but the river's really in flood."
A spokeswoman for the North East ambulance service said an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended the search but had since left the scene. A spokeswoman for the North East ambulance service said an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended the search but had then left the scene.
The fire service had also left the area but the RAF and the mountain rescue team were planning to continue the search during the night, according to a spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington fire and rescue service, The RAF and a mountain rescue team continued the search overnight.
The spokeswoman said: "A multi-agency approach was co-ordinated by the fire service, involving fire, police, ambulance, Teesdale and Weardale search and rescue and the RAF, who have attempted to locate the boy. A Durham police spokesman said: "Police are continuing their search today for a missing eight-year-old boy who fell into the river Wear, near Willington, last night.
"The RAF and mountain rescue team are continuing the search during the evening hours." "The incident happened at around 7pm last night, near to the Brown Trout pub, which is in close proximity to the river.
A spokesman for Durham police said: "The boy, who was playing with his friends in the area of the Brown Trout pub, which is in close proximity to the river, is believed to have fallen from the embankment into the water at approximately 7pm this evening. "It is believed the boy, from Sunnybrow, was playing with his friends when he fell into the water.
"An extensive search of the river is currently in progress, with assistance from the fire brigade. Teesside search and rescue are also providing assistance, along with the police North East air support unit." "A specialist underwater search and rescue team is also assisting with the search."