Boy missing in River Don named as search continues

An intensive search is underway for 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift, who disappeared in the River Don in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, on Saturday evening. Mackenzie was last seen entering the water off Ferry Boat Lane around 8:00 PM BST. His family is being supported by police liaison officers as they endure what authorities described as "every parent's worst nightmare."

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Our family liaison officers have sadly had the heartbreaking conversation with Mackenzie's family that if he had not exited the river on Saturday, he could not have survived in the water for this length of time.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that if Mackenzie had not managed to exit the river on Saturday, survival in the water for an extended period would be impossible. Despite extensive inquiries, there is no indication that he got out of the water. The search operation involves an underwater search team and volunteers from Mountain Rescue, with officers remaining at the scene overnight and resuming efforts at first light.

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Sadly, none of our enquiries so far have found any indication that he got out of the water.

Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp appealed to the public to avoid the area, emphasizing the need to leave the search to professional teams and to avoid endangering themselves or others. He stressed that police requests to leave the vicinity are for public safety and to ensure the focus remains solely on finding Mackenzie. The thoughts of everyone involved in the search are with Mackenzie and his family.

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I understand members of the public are desperate to help, but I must ask that you leave this work to the professional search teams.

The incident occurs during a period of increased water-related fatalities in the UK, with at least 15 deaths recorded during the recent heatwave. This includes a 15-year-old girl who died in hospital after getting into difficulty in the sea off Merseyside, and a woman in her 60s who died after entering the water in Thornton Cleveleys to rescue a dog. A man also in his 60s, who entered the water with the woman, remains in critical condition.

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Please do not put yourselves or others in danger by searching in and around water, and if asked to leave by officers, please understand this is for your own safety and to ensure our efforts focus solely on finding Mackenzie.