TRAGIC VIDEO
Moment boy, 2, fell into River Soar captured on CCTV, cops say, as recovery dogs join desperate hunt for toddler
Cops have answered questions over what the footage shows
COPS desperately searching a river for a missing two-year-old boy have discovered CCTV showing him falling into the water.
A major search is underway after the toddler ended up in the fast-flowing River Soar in Leicester while out with family on Sunday.
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Specialist rescue teams have been scouring the river and flooded fields nearby as officers appealed for witnesses to come forward.
In an update to the media, Leicestershire Police assistant chief constable Michaela Kerr said: "This continues to be Leicestershire Police’s number one priority – recovering that little boy and making sure that the family are well-supported.
"We have now recovered CCTV imagery that we believe shows the moment when the little boy disappeared into the water.
"And we have been able to establish some further information from dog walkers and members of the local community so we're very grateful for the support the local community have given us."
Today, Kent and West Mercia Police Search and Rescue team and the Metropolitan Police Marine Recovery dogs also joined the operation.
Confirming that the incident is still being treated as a missing person inquiry, ACC Kerr said: “We have got nothing to suggest anything other than this is a tragic set of circumstances.”
Water rescue teams and emergency services raced to the river in the Aylestone Meadows after getting frantic calls at around 5pm on Sunday.
The tot's dad jumped into the waterway to try to rescue his son and was later taken to hospital as a precaution.
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Asked about what the CCTV showed, Ms Kerr added: “All we can say at the moment is that he was with family members.
“The last thing that we can see of the CCTV is that he just disappears into the water. I am not in a position to be too specific about that but we do know he was out with family members at the time.”
Ms Kerr added: “This is an extremely difficult time for the family, our thoughts are very much with them, and we continue to support them.
“A number of teams from across the force and region have assisted us during this operation and our priority remains to locate the young boy.
"Thank you to all our officers and specialist teams who continue to work extremely hard at the scene in what are very difficult circumstance for everyone involved.”
Cops have urged people not to attend the scene over fears of rising water levels and safety risks.
It came after they received a number of requests to offer support in the search operation.
Local Alison Clay said she had been walking her dog when she noticed emergency services swarming the river.
She told the : "A helicopter was flying around after 5pm and lots of emergency vehicles soon came.
"There's a drone in the sky still now. I only know what I've read on Facebook but it sounds terrible."
Another resident said they'd been stopped from going down near the river this evening, adding: "The parents must be absolutely beside themselves."
Leicestershire Police initially said the boy was three, before confirming he was two.
At 10.30pm on the day of the incident the force said: "Earlier this evening officers were called to the River Soar in Leicester after reports of a child falling into the water.
"The child, a two-year-old boy, was with family when he fell into the river, sadly despite the best efforts of those at the scene at the time the child was not located.
"Emergency services attended the scene just after 5pm and a search and rescue operation began in Aylestone Meadows, close to Marsden Lane.
"A man was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
"The operation is ongoing and will continue with additional specialist teams in the morning."
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Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said around 8pm: "This is a police-led incident.
"We can confirm we were alerted at 17:05 and still have water rescue teams at the scene."
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