Body found in search for 11-year-old who disappeared in River Thames

The family of an 11-year-old girl who disappeared after falling in the Thames has been informed after a body was discovered this morning.

Kaliyah Coa, from Beckton in east London, lost her footing while playing with friends on a causeway near City Airport on March 31.

A major search operation was launched, with the London Ambulance Service (LAS), London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the RNLI combing the river, but Kaliyah was not found.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were alerted after a body was found shortly after 9am today.

While the body has not been formally identified, Kaliyah’s family were told.

A spokesperson for the Met said: ‘The Met was alerted to a body in the River Thames in Maritime Quay, E14 on Sunday April 13 at 09:03am.

‘The body is yet to be formally identified. However, the family of Kaliyah Coa have been informed of this development and are being supported by specialist officers.

‘An update will be provided following formal identification.’

Tributes to Kaliyah were left at Bargehouse Causeway in North Woolwich, where she was last seen at the end of last month.

A family friend who was visiting the spot previously told Metro: ‘I know the dad, he is going to be in a very bad place.

‘He lost another child when they were a baby. It is devastating.’

She added: ‘As a child I came here to the water, and it is very dangerous.’

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