Search continues to find missing 6-year-old boy who fell into the River Stour in Kent

Lucas Dobson fell into the water between a jetty and a boat while fishing on Saturday.
  • Watch John Ryall's report from Monday (19th) below:

The search continues today (19th Aug) to find six-year-old Lucas Dobson who went missing after he fell into the River Stour in Kent.

Hundreds of volunteers have joined search and rescue teams in helping to locate Lucas after he fell into the water between a jetty and a boat while fishing on the river with his family.

It happened at around 1:20pm on Saturday afternoon close to Richborough Road.

Police say it is now highly unlikely Lucas will be found alive, but there remains a possibility that he is lost or injured after being washed ashore downstream.

A public briefing took place this morning at Sandwich Fire Station to allow people to understand how best to support the search operation.

Renewed searches of river and river banks took place using boats, drivers, drones, helicopters and a sandwich-based hovercraft company, which joined the operation, searching Pegwell Bay where the Stour flows into the North Sea.

Members of the public helping to search are being asked to respect the property of others, to report anything related to the search to the police by calling 101, quoting 17-766.

Lucas Dobson was on a family fishing trip on Saturday afternoon. Credit: PA images

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard and volunteers from Kent Search and Rescue have been involved in the search. A specialist diving team are also searching the river with sonar equipment.

A police officer talks to members of the public gathered to join specialist search and rescue teams. Credit: PA images

Hundreds of local people have also been assisting the emergency services in the search for Lucas.

Specialist search groups search a section of the River Stour for missing six-year-old Lucas Dobson. Credit: PA images
A specialist search team use sonar equipment on a section of the River Stour. Credit: PA images
Volunteers have been searching 8 miles of riverbank Credit: PA images