FAMILY AGONY
Daniel Alaby’s dad is ‘in bits’ after son, 5, died in river as he tells pals ‘we keep doors locked, how did he get out?’
Tributes have flooded in for little Daniel
THE dad of a five-year-old boy found in the River Thames is "in bits" as he questioned "how he got out".
A police appeal was launched to find Daniel Alaby on Friday after he went missing from his home in Thamesmead, south-east London, at 5.30pm.
6
6
6
Cops said he was last seen playing in his room with his brother.
At 6.23pm officers looking for Daniel found a child in the river, the Metropolitan Police said.
Police administered CPR before the paramedics arrived.
The boy - understood to be Daniel - was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead, the force added.
Read more News
His family have been made aware and are being supported by police.
A local, who didn't want to be named, said she had seen Daniel's father this morning and he was an "absolute wreck".
She told The Sun: "Daniel loves water, he's drawn to the water.
"There should be higher railings, up there it's open, there's not even a wall this big up there.
Most read in The Sun
"You don't see anyone sitting or climbing on the wall. The only people who do it are the fishermen."
She added: "His dad this morning was saying: 'We keep the doors locked, how did he get out?'."
The local later added: "I don’t understand how he’s not been seen by anyone… what gets me is he went missing about 5.30pm… he lives within a 5 minute walk, it would have taken him 5 minutes to climb up [the barrier], so where was everyone?
"If people were around at the time then society has failed him."
Labour's councillor for Thamesmead Moorings Averil Lekau said there was "no way" the boy could have climbed over a barrier and got into the water.
She told The Sun: "This is a busy place. It's got people running, cycling, all the time, so from walking over from there [boy's home], somebody would have seen a kid of that age on their own and for me that would have set off alarm bells.
"This is so unusual. I've lived in Thamesmead for 40 years. It's not something we have ever experienced.
"Thamesmead has so many waterways, canals, locks and so on, but the river, we have never had an issue with it.";
Police statement in full
Police issued an appeal on Friday, 29 March, to locate a missing boy, Daniel Alaby.
At 18:23hrs that evening officers looking for Daniel found a child in the River Thames.
Officers pulled the child from the water and administered CPR prior to the arrival of LAS.
The child, who is believed to be Daniel, was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
He was pronounced dead at hospital later that evening.
Daniel’s family have been made aware. They are being supported by police officers.
Enquiries are under way to establish the circumstances of the incident.
Anyone who may have seen Daniel on Friday evening is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref 4592/29MAR24.
At this very early stage, there is no evidence to suggest that any other person was involved. Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.
It comes as floral tributes were left at the scene for Daniel.
One read: "Daniel, sleep peacefully. Thoughts are with your family."
Another said: "Rest in eternal peace little man. Thoughts are with your family at this sad time."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
There is no evidence to suggest that any other person was involved, the Met said.
Anyone who may have seen Daniel on Friday is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref 4592/29MAR24.
6
6
6
Topics