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Boy killed in river tragedy named

Pa
Tuesday 31 May 2011 13:48 BST
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A 12-year-old boy who died after falling into a river while playing on a rope swing with friends during the bank holiday weekend has been named by police.

Alex Chappell fell into the River Medway in Maidstone, yesterday afternoon and quickly got into difficulties, Kent Police said.

A passer-by dived into the water in an attempt to save him but the man was unable to find him in the deep water at the park near The Stampers at Tovil.

Emergency teams, including firefighters and water safety unit boat teams, searched the river, and a force helicopter was also scrambled to help officers on the ground.

Alex's body was pulled from the water by firefighters almost two hours after he fell in, at 4.15pm, and paramedics were unable to revive him.

He was taken by ambulance to Maidstone General Hospital where further attempts to resuscitate him were made but he was confirmed dead just before 5.30pm.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "The circumstances surrounding his death have been confirmed as non-suspicious. The family have been informed and the coroner has been notified."

A post-mortem examination will take place this week.

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