Missing boy River Soar: Body found in search of toddler Xielo Maruziva who fell into water in Leicester’s Aylestone Meadows

A body has been found in the search for missing two-year-old Xielo Maruziva, who fell into the River Soar at Aylestone Meadows in Leicester. A large police presence is at the nature reserve this afternoon, with cordons preventing people from accessing a large area of ​​grassland, including the shingle beach.

Xielo had been walking along the River Soar towpath at Marsden Lane with his family on Sunday, February 18, when he fell into the water. This prompted the launch of an urgent police search, described at the time as one of the most complex police had ever faced. The search continued for several weeks without success. It was reduced on Thursday, March 21.

Police said in a statement this evening: “A body has been found in the search for two-year-old Xielo Maruziva, who fell into the River Soar on Sunday 18 February. The body was found earlier this morning (Thursday) by workers. carrying out work in the Aylestone Meadows area near the River Soar.

“The frame has been recovered and formal identification will now take place. Specialist officers are providing support to Xielo’s family. HM Coroner has been informed.”

Deputy Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “This is devastating news and our thoughts are with Xielo’s family. We are so sorry to break the news we have all been dreading, and our full support goes out to them at this most difficult time.

“Formal identification will now take place and we ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this time. Full support is also being given to the workers who were in the Aylestone Meadows area this morning and I want to thank them for their support and co-operation in the most appalling and unimaginable circumstances.”

ACC Kerr added: “Thank you to everyone involved in the search for Xielo for your dedicated work in extremely traumatic circumstances and an extremely complex search. We also thank our communities and wider members of the public for your continued support.”

We’ll bring you updates on this story as it happens. For the latest, see our story here.

Xielo’s Quest History:

• Timeline: Sunday, February 18 – a two-year-old boy, then unnamed, fell into the River Soar at Aylestone Meadows. A search was launched by emergency services.
• Monday 19 February – more specialist teams from police forces across the country join the search
• Wednesday, February 21 – Xielo Maruziva is named as the boy who fell into the water. His family calls him “a bundle of joy.”
• Friday, February 23 – Police promise to continue their search over the weekend.
• Monday, February 26 – Following calls from Xielo’s family, police have announced that a private search team that helped look for Nicola Bulley will join the operation. Police also confirm the search area has been extended to include the River Soar around Watermead Park and Birstall.
• Tuesday 27 February – Search Group International (SGI) joins the search and is seen in Aylestone Meadows
• Thursday 29th February – SGI team members spotted in River Soar near King Power Stadium
• Friday, March 1 – the search continues
• Sunday, March 10 – quest reaches three weeks to the day from Xielo Thursday, March 21 – Xielo’s quest is reduced
• Wednesday June 6 – Police searching for Xielo recover a body from the River Soar, close to where the toddler fell into the water