Divers find body of Robert Kennedy’s eight-year-old great-grandson Gideon McKean

Police in Maryland have now recovered the bodies of both mother and son who went missing in canoes last week

Gov. Larry Hogan announced the discovery of Gideon McKean's body after five days of searching (AP)

Police in Maryland have found the body of missing eight-year-old Gideon McKean, great-grandson of Robert F Kennedy, who went missing on a canoeing trip with his mother last week.

Maryland Natural Resources Police said that divers located the body 2.3 miles south of his grandmother’s home in Shady Side, Maryland, on Wednesday after a five day search.

It came almost a week after 41-year-old Maeve Kennedy McKean, and her son Gideon, went missing whilst canoeing in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Ms McKean’s body was found on Monday, around 2000 feet from the spot where Giden’s body was located.

The McKean family had been using the Shady Side home of Ms McKean’s mother, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, as a place to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The mother and son pair got into trouble last Thursday when they “appeared to be overtaken by the strong winds,” said police, which prevented them from paddling back to shore in their canoes.

Their capsized canoes were later reported and a recovery mission was launched using aviation and underwater imaging technology alongside the US Coast Guard.

In a statement, Ms McKean’s mother, a former lieutenant governor of Maryland, thanked state and federal authorities for their work.

She said: “They have helped us bring some closure to this terrible loss, and our family will always be grateful for their tireless work,”

Maryland governor Larry Hogan confirmed on Twitter that Maeve and Gideon McKean had both been found, and said: "Please continue to keep their family in your prayers as they mourn this devastating loss."

Mr Hogan also thank the state's natural resources police and agencies involved in the rescue.

Ms McKean’s husband, David McKean, paid tribute to his “magical” wife and “perfect” son in a Facebook post last Friday.