Leicester river - latest: Nicola Bulley diving expert Peter Faulding joins search for missing two-year old boy

Diving expert Peter Faulding will join the search for toddler Xielo Maruziva who is missing in the River Soar

Leicester police provide update on search for toddler who fell into river

The diving expert who joined the hunt for missing mother Nicola Bulley last year has been called in to help find a missing toddler in Leicestershire.

Peter Faulding, 61, who claimed to have found Ms Bulley’s body within six minutes in the River Wyre, Lancashire, has been recruited to find missing two-year-old Xielo Maruziva.

The “creative little boy” has been been missing since 18 February after he fell into the River Soar, Leicester, while out with his family in Aylestone Meadows.

Mr Faulding claimed Xielo’s family had contacted him to request his help, but that his offer of support was ignored by police.

Now, Mr Faulding and experts from private company Specialist Group International (SGI) will join the operation after “further conversations with search specialists and Xielo’s family”.

The search for the boy is in its second week, with the focus on the stretch of river around Watermead Park and Birstall over the weekend, police said.

Key Points

• Nicola Bulley diving expert to join search of River Soar
• Xielo’s father who was hospitalised trying to save son calls him ‘bundle of joy'
• Police obtain CCTV of ‘boy falling into water'

[22 February 2024 03:45 · Alex Ross]

Family being supported, police say

As searches of the River Soar take place today, police say they are continuing in their efforts to support the missing boy’s family.

Leicestershire Police told Leicester Live: “The child’s family are being supported by specialist officers and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.”

Anyone with information or who comes across something that may aid the search is urged to contact police as soon as possible.

[22 February 2024 02:30 · Alex Ross]

Thanks to public for support

Ever since the first appeal for help on the search for missing Xielo, there has been strong support from people giving information or lending a hand in the hope of finding the toddler.

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “I would also like to add that following the appeal we issued on Monday evening for witnesses, we have had a large number of responses and have identified a number of people who were in the area at the time who have provided us with information.

“Thank you to everyone who has made contact with us and helped us with our enquiries. It is very much appreciated by us all.

“While the weather conditions today do make the search more difficult for us, this will absolutely not stop our dedicated and specialist teams at the scene from doing everything they can. Our search operation today does very much remain ongoing.”

[22 February 2024 01:01 · Alex Ross]

Recap on police message to the public on Wednesday

As the weather conditions worsened, Leicestershire Police said the priority remained to find Xielo, who fell in the River Soar on Sunday.

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “As we now enter the fourth day of the search for the missing boy, we have been truly overwhelmed by the support we have received from forces and other agencies across the country as well as from our communities and the wider public. We really do thank you for this. The priority for us all remains to find this little boy and we are grateful for all of your help and support.

“Specialist officers continue to provide full support to the family and our thoughts very much remain with them. I thank them for their bravery, their support and co-operation with us at this extremely traumatic time.”

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr (PA)