A BODY has been found amid a major hunt for a girl who went missing in the River Thames after “getting into difficulty” near the pier.
Emergency services had been frantically searching for the child who disappeared under the water by the Royal Terrace Pier, in Gravesend, Kent on 30 May.
Kent Police have since confirmed they have retrieved a girl’s body from the water.
The young girl’s family are being supported by specialist officers.
A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “Officers searching the River Thames near Gravesend for a missing girl have located a body.
“Kent Police was called by the Port of London Authority at 1.46pm on Friday 30 May 2025, to concerns for the welfare of two children who had entered the river at Royal Pier Road.
“Patrols, H.M. Coastguard, the RNLI and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where a boy had been retrieved from the water. He remains at a local hospital in a stable condition.
“Kent Police’s Marine Unit and H.M. Coastguard continued the search of the water and river bank this morning. At around 11.40am, a body was recovered from the river near Gravesend with the assistance of the RNLI.
“Formal identification by the missing girl’s next of kin has taken place.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”
The alarm was raised at about 1:45pm yesterday after two children got into difficulty in the river.
A young boy was quickly recovered whilst an urgent rescue operation was carried out for the girl.
Metropolitan Police boats and the RNLI were called to assist with the search.
A police helicopter and South East Coast Ambulance Service were also sent to the scene.
Kent Police was called by the Port of London Authority.
An HM Coastguard spokesman said yesterday: “HM Coastguard is responding to a report of two children in difficulty in the water near the Royal Terrace Pier, Gravesend.
“The alarm was raised at about 1.35pm on 30 May. One child has been recovered and the search is ongoing for a second.
“Metropolitan Police boats are attending as well as the RNLI lifeboat from Gravesend, Kent.
“Police, and a police helicopter. South East Coast Ambulance Service was sent.”
A Kent Police spokesperson said yesterday: “Coastguard, the RNLI and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where a boy had been retrieved from the water.
“He was taken to local hospital for further medical attention. A search is underway for a girl who remains missing. The parents of the children have been informed.”
