The body of a 14-year boy who went missing after he attempted to rescue a dog from the River Bush at Stranocum in Co Antrim has been recovered.
James Elliott was swept away in the swollen river around 3 pm on Thursday. He had been out walking along the river at Stranocum with a teenage friend when he tried to assist a Labrador dog that appeared in difficulties in the river.
He went into the river to try to help the animal but then got into difficulties himself. His friend tried to assist James. The boy was rescued as was the dog.
The missing boy’s father and a friend were quickly on the scene. Mr Elliott was unable to rescue his son from the river, according to eye-witnesses.
A major search and rescue operation was mounted. It involved the PSNI, a British Royal Navy helicopter, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services, the Coastguard and the Bann River Rescue team.
“Police would remind the public of the significant dangers posed by rivers and waterways especially in the aftermath of heavy rainfall,” she said.
“Swollen rivers can often be deceptive in terms of their depth, and the force with which currents flow within them can prove fatal even for experienced swimmers.” The body of 14-year-old footballing prodigy James Elliott was finally recovered from the River Bush this afternoon, as a massive search effort entered its third day.
Police divers, Bann River Rescue, Coastguards, Royal Navy, RAF and Fire Service teams were all engaged in the search operation.
The boy was a pupil at Dalriada High School where he played for the school team - having already won international recognition as a Northern Ireland under-13 player.
In the latest tragedy, a body of a man believed to be in his late teens was recovered from the River Bann at Portadown, at around 1pm today.
Emergency services were involved in a three-hour search after he was seen entering the water near Derrycarne Road just before 10am.
A post mortem examination is to be carried out to help determine the cause of death, but early indications suggested it was a tragic accident.