9 hours ago
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South Yorkshire Police
Mackenzie Swift, 11, went into the River Don in Mexborough over the weekend
Police searching for an 11-year-old boy who went missing after entering the River Don in South Yorkshire have recovered a body.
Mackenzie Swift was last seen going into the water near Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough at about 20:00 BST on Saturday.
South Yorkshire Police said extensive searches, including an underwater team and Mountain Rescue volunteers, came to an end shortly before 23:00 on Monday.
A force spokesperson said while formal identification had yet to take place, Mackenzie's family had been informed and had been offered specialist support.
Mackenzie is the 16th person in the UK known to have died after getting into trouble in open water during the recent hot weather.
Ch Supt Pete Thorp, district commander for Doncaster, thanked the local community for their support and expressed his condolences to everyone affected by the news.
"First and foremost, on behalf of all who have been involved in the operation to find Mackenzie since Saturday, I send deepest sympathies to his family and friends," he said.
"Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare and I know the impact this news will have on the wider community and particularly Mackenzie's school."
Thorp also expressed his thanks to those involved in the search, in particular volunteers from the Woodhead Mountain Rescue.
South Yorkshire Police
Search teams had been looking for Mackenzie since Saturday
In a statement, MP for Doncaster North, Ed Miliband, sent his "deepest condolences" to Mackenzie's family.
"I can only imagine the terrible grief the family is facing and I want them to know that the whole community is with them in this time of such sorrow," he said.
"I am deeply grateful to the emergency services and search teams who have worked tirelessly in recent days."
Phil Bodmer/BBC
At least 16 people across the UK have died in open water during the recent hot weather
Mackenzie's death comes after a number of other water-related fatalities in recent weeks, including three others in Yorkshire.
The teenager was found in the River Wharfe, near Burnsall, in the Yorkshire Dales, and later died in hospital.
A 15-year-old girl from Cheshire died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulties in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on Bank Holiday Monday.
A woman in her 60s also died on Saturday after she and a man got into difficulty after entering the water in Thornton Cleveleys to "rescue their dog".
Lancashire Police said the man, also in his 60s, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
