Police confirm the body found at Aylestone Meadows is 2-year-old Xielo Maruziva

A body found in the River Soar in Leicester’s Aylestone Meadows is that of missing two-year-old Xielo Maruziva, police have confirmed. The young man had fallen into the water at the attraction on Sunday, February 18.

On Wednesday, June 6, workers discovered a body at the nature reserve and cordons were put in place while the boy’s body was removed. This afternoon (Monday), Leicestershire Police said the formal identification had been completed.

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr, who led the operation to find Xielo, said: “We are very sorry to break this news. This is a devastating and tragic incident and our thoughts are with all of Xielo’s family at this most difficult and unimaginable time.

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

“We ask that the family’s privacy continue to be respected at this time. We also continue to offer our full support to the workers who were in the Aylestone Meadows area on Thursday morning and we continue to thank them for their support and co-operation. operation under the most appalling circumstances.”

She thanked the public and everyone involved in the search for Xielo, which included experts from police forces across the country and teams from Search Group International (SGI), who were brought in to help at the request of the young man’s family. .

ACC Kerr said: “I know this news has affected many of us and again I want to pass on my thanks to everyone involved in the search for Xielo for your dedicated work in extremely traumatic circumstances and for an extremely complex search. We also thank our communities and wider members of the public for your continued support.”

Xielo had been walking with his family along the River Soar towpath at Marsden Lane when he fell into the water at around 5pm on the day he went missing. This prompted a search which was described as one of the most complex the police had ever faced.

The search continued for several weeks without success. It was scaled back on Thursday, March 21. After the boy’s body was discovered last week, stuffed animals, balloons, flowers and candles were left at the scene near the park’s Pebbly Beach.

Police said today that its specialist officers are continuing to provide support to Xielo’s family and that the Leicester Coroner has been informed.

Xielo’s Quest History:

• Timeline: Sunday 18th February – 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
• Monday, June 10 – Police confirm the body is Xielo’s

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