The body of a young girl has been recovered from the River Thames near Gravesend following an extensive search that began on Friday afternoon. Kent Police confirmed the discovery on Saturday 31 May, 2025.
Officers were initially called at 1:46 pm on Friday, May 30th, 2025, following concerns for the welfare of two children who had entered the river near Royal Pier Road. The alarm was raised by the Port of London Authority.
A multi-agency response was swiftly launched, involving Kent Police patrols, H.M. Coastguard, the RNLI, and the South East Coast Ambulance Service. A boy was successfully retrieved from the water at the scene and is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital, where his condition is described as stable.
The search continued into Saturday morning, with the Kent Police Marine Unit and H.M. Coastguard focusing their efforts on the river and its banks. At approximately 11:40 am, the search teams, assisted by the RNLI, located and recovered a body from the river near Gravesend.
Formal identification of the deceased has now been completed by the missing girl’s next of kin. Kent Police have stated that the death is not being treated as suspicious at this early stage and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.