COPS have brought in a diving “expert” to help locate a two-year-old boy who fell into the River Soar.
Xielo Maruziva fell into the river in Aylestone Meadows, close to Marsden Lane, in Leicester at around 5pm on February 18.
Police have now called in Peter Faulding – who helped with the search for Nicola Bulley, 45, after she vanished on January 27 last year.
The search parameter has also been widened, with the operation focusing on the stretch of river around Watermead Park and Birstall over the weekend.
Officers from Leicestershire Police continue to be supported by specialist diving teams from Nottinghamshire Police and Lincolnshire Police, as well as other forces and search and rescue teams from across the region and country.
Support in the air has also been provided by the National Police Air Service (NPAS).
Following further conversations with search specialists and Xielo’s family, support will be provided by Specialist Group International (SGI) from tomorrow.
Faulding has been the CEO of SGI since 1995.
Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “We continue to be grateful to the support we’ve been shown by the public and colleagues from other forces and agencies.
“We’re in regular contact with Xielo’s family and are continuing to support them in what remains a very upsetting time.
“Our search operation to locate Xielo continues to widen as we know he may have travelled further from where he went into the water – and potentially outside our force area.
“I would like to reassure you that our operation is continuing and our teams will be carrying out co-ordinated searches at various points along the river.
“Our decision to involve SGI in the search in liaison with Xielo’s family and having spoken to both the company and independent specialists.
“I’d also like to remind the public that the river is dangerous and that they should not go into the water themselves. Thank you.”
