Family of girl, 11, feared dead after falling in Thames share picture

The family of a schoolgirl feared dead after she fell in the River Thames have shared the first picture of her days after she went missing.

Kaliyah Coa, 11, was reportedly down at the water with her friends near Woolwich during a school inset day on Monday when she slipped and fell in.

A major search operation was launched by the authorities who raced down to the waterway at around 1.15pm to Barge House Causeway. 

However in the hours that ensued they were unable to locate her. 

Her family today released the first picture of the missing schoolgirl as police continue to scour the area in the hopes of finding her. 

According to witnesses, the youngster had been 'playing in the water' with a young boy and girl before she went under and did not come back up. 

A passersby had reportedly been alerted to the horror unfolding by the shouts and screams before one woman desperately raced to the shoreline with a life ring in the hopes of rescuing the girl. 

The woman found a pair of socks and shoes, a coat and a mobile phone by the water's edge, which she later handed into the police. 

Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives next to Kerry Benadjaoud on Barge House Road, said: 'I heard upstairs a guy was screaming "wait there, wait, the police is coming".'

She added the man had been standing on a balcony in a flat block overlooking the river, saying he later told her he had become aware of the situation by the children 'shouting, screaming'.

One girl reportedly returned home while the boy showed Ms Rajaendram where the event took place, calling her to collect a life ring.

Ms Rajaendram said 'the water is very high', adding the causeway that appeared to be covered in moss was very slippery.

Another witness, Kerry Benadjaoud, said she took a life ring to the water's edge in a bid to rescue the girl, who had been on a day off school at the time.

Ms Benadjaoud, 62, said: 'The little boy turned around and said "I tried to hold her hand but it slipped".

'I said to the little boy's parents obviously he needs to see someone because it's going to affect him later.'

She added the boy had been about eight or nine years old, and said: 'Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down.'

The two women live on a residential street that leads onto Barge House Causeway - a concrete slope that goes directly into the River Thames and is used to transport boats.

A man told Ms Benadjaoud he had called the police, she said, adding: 'But he said at the time he could see her (the girl's) hands going down. So, by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn't find her.'

Ms Benadjaoud said she found shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and handed the items to the police.

Authorities made use of drones, boats and aerial support - and tragically there has been no update on the youngster's whereabouts.

The Metropolitan Police said a recovery mission is now underway to find Kaliyah along the Thames, with the force leading an extensive examination of the area.

Chief Superintendent Dan Card, local policing commander for north east London, said: 'Our specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah’s family through this deeply upsetting time and our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.

'We are committed to finding Kaliyah and are working with partners to conduct a thorough search over a wide area – utilising drone technology and boats.

'I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers, and colleagues from other emergency services, as they responded rapidly to carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time.

'Equally we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days – if you have any concerns then please speak to them.' 

The London Ambulance Service said: 'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team. 

'Our crews assisted our emergency services partners at the scene but were later stood down.'

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Joseph Kenny added: 'Firefighters responded to reports of a person in the River Thames near Lowestoft Mews, Newham.

'Crews from East Ham, Barking, Ilford and Bexley fire stations were sent to the scene alongside crews from the HM Coastguard, RNLI, London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police Service. The Brigade also deployed its drone team and fire boat as part of its response, with crews carrying out a systematic search of the area.

'The Brigade was first called about the incident at 1323. Search operations for firefighters were concluded at 1549, when responsibility for the incident was left with the police.'

The RNLI said: 'Tower RNLI was requested to launch this afternoon (March 31) to an incident near Woolwich.

'The lifeboat was later stood down.'