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Search for boy after quarry swim in Dudley | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A search is under way for a teenage boy who got in to difficulty while swimming at a quarry in the West Midlands. | |
Emergency services were called to the site at Lower Gornal, Dudley, at 13:17 BST. | |
Ch Supt Stewart Johnson from West Midlands Police said the boy had been swimming in the quarry with a group of friends. | |
He said: "He slipped below the surface of the water and there was no trace of him when officers arrived." | |
He added: "We've found no trace of him coming out of the water at any other point and we're concerned that he didn't come back up to the surface." | |
Eyewitness Stuart Mills said there had been a large group of between "40 and 60 youngsters messing about" at the quarry, swimming in the water. | |
Steep sides | |
Officers have cordoned off the area at the back of the Crooked House pub while the search continues. | |
West Midlands Police said its helicopter was using on-board thermal imaging equipment to look for the boy and that underwater search teams had been brought in. | |
Ch Supt Johnson said: "They'll search the immediate area where the boy was seen to go into the water. | |
"We have two or three hours of daylight left but if that search is unsuccessful initially it may be that we have to secure the scene and continue tomorrow morning." | |
The police said the quarry had steep sides and was up to 40 ft (12m) deep in some places. | |
The force said the family liaison officer was supporting the boy's family. | The force said the family liaison officer was supporting the boy's family. |