Kids’ horrifying screams for help after pal, 11, ‘slipped & fell into River Thames’ while ‘paddling’ on day off school
HORRIFYING screams for help were heard as a missing schoolgirl fell into the River Thames.
The 11-year-old vanished into the water while paddling with a friend near Woolwich, London, on Monday afternoon.
A witness has described how they heard the pal “shouting, screaming” during the incident.
Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who resides on Barge House Road leading to the causeway, also told The Mirror: “I heard upstairs a guy was screaming ‘wait there, wait, the police is coming’.”
“Then I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge, I said ‘what happened?’ Then they said ‘one of my friends was playing in the water, one of my friends has gone into water and she’s gone underneath and we can’t find her.”
Cops responded to reports of a child falling into the river at Barge House Causeway 1.15pm.
A resident who lives near to where the girl disappeared told The Sun: “So what we understand is the girl was playing down by the water.
“She was with two other kids. Obviously we were thinking, why aren’t they in school? But I think a lot of schools are off for Eid.
“The little boy was holding her hand to help her step in the water but obviously she slipped, because it’s really slippy.
“As soon as she fell she was gone. She just disappeared into the tide. The boy came running to one of my neighbours for help but it was too late.
“While the other kid — a little girl — went running to get a donut. All of us rushed out but it’s freezing in there.
“You should have seen it here an hour ago. There were three helicopters, at least five ambulances.
“The road was full. It’s in police hands now but we know what they’re like, they don’t do anything.”
A significant emergency response is currently in place, with crews from the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, and multiple search and rescue teams actively involved.
The operation also includes the Coast Guard, Border Force vessels, and a search and rescue helicopter.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after the incident unfolded, and a large presence remains along the riverbank as the search continues.
They are said to be forming a “large-scale response” to the incident and authorities are using boats, drones, and aerial support in a desperate bid to locate the missing child.
Lifelong area resident Kerry Benadjaoud, 62, told the PA news agency: “My neighbour next door, she was outside doing her garden and there was two little kids running, and they said ‘my friend’s in the water’.”
The neighbour called Ms Benadjaoud, who said she then went to pick up a nearby life ring.
The two women live on a residential street that leads onto Barge House Causeway, which is a concrete slope that goes directly into the River Thames.
A man told Ms Benadjaoud that 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.
The girl had been playing with other children before falling in, people who live nearby claimed.
Ms Benadjaoud continued: “A 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.
“Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down.”
Fellow resident, Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives next to Ms Benadjaoud also told the PA news agency: “I heard upstairs a guy was screaming ‘wait there, wait, the police is coming’.”
The mother continued: “Then I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge, I said ‘what happened?’
“Then they said ‘one of my friends was playing in the water, one of my friends has gone into the water and she’s gone underneath and we can’t find her’.”
Ms Rajaendram told how “the water is very high” and the causeway was very slippery.
Despite the extensive efforts, there has been no confirmation of any recovery at this time.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at around 13:15hrs on Monday, 31 March to reports of an 11-year-old girl who had entered the River Thames near to Barge House Causeway, E16.
“A large scale response is ongoing, supported by all emergency services, working together to conduct an extensive search in efforts to locate her.
“Her next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by officers.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Joseph Kenny said: “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 Sun has reached out to HM Coastguard for a comment.