Essex Police find body of missing boy, 15, last seen in the lake near Lakeside Shopping Centre

Police find body of missing boy, 15, who was last seen in the lake near Essex shopping centre

  • Essex Police said that the discovery was made shortly after 12.40pm on Saturday
  • Police were called out on Friday night after reports a teenager had gone missing
  • They rushed to Lakeside Shopping Centre and asked for the public to stay clear
  • Police said boy’s family has been told and formal identification will take place

A body has been found in the search for a 15-year-old boy who went missing in a lake close to a shopping centre.

Essex Police said the discovery was made shortly after 12.40pm on Saturday and they have suspended their search.

Officers were called out on Friday night after reports a teenager had gone missing at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock.

Missing person last seen in Alexandra Lake in Essex at around 8.50pm yesterday was confirmed as a 15-year-old boy

Police said the boy’s family has been informed and formal identification will take place in due course.

Superintendent Craig Saunders said: ‘I want to thank the local community for their patience, and all those involved who have helped with the investigation.’

Essex police rushed to the Alexandra Lake at the shopping centre at around 8.50pm on July 31 after reports the boy was missing.

The missing person later was confirmed as a 15-year-old boy and police asked for people to avoid the area.

Specialist search teams were called in to lead the urgent search for the teenager, who went missing on the water. The search was scaled down at around midnight last night.

It came as the UK recording its third hottest day on record on Friday, with temperatures at Heathrow Airport reaching 37.8C.