The Metropolitan Police have said they were alerted to a body in the River Thames in Maritime Quay at around 9am Sunday morning. The extensive search for missing 11-year-old schoolgirl Kaliyah Coa has been ongoing since she fell into the river in North Woolwich on March 31st.

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 Kaliyah is said to have been playing with her friends on a school inset day when she accidentally entered the water near Barge House Causeway. Barge House Causeway is a concrete slope used to transport boats that goes directly into the Thames.

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 On the day of the incident reports came in that the Causeway was covered in moss and notably slippery and that the water was “very high”. Additionally, local residents who heard the “shouts and screams” of children directly following Coa’s fall, called authorities and even attempted to rescue the girl. 62-year-old Kerry Benadjaoud said she took a life ring to the water's edge in an unsuccessful bid to help Coa. Benadjaoud also spoke with a “little boy” who was with Coa at the time of the accident and who said of the tragedy: "I tried to hold her hand but it slipped".

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Following the tragic incident, a major search investigation was launched that today, likely uncovered the body of the young girl. 

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In an official statement from the force, officers said: 

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'The Met was alerted to a body in the River Thames in Maritime Quay, E14 on Sunday, 13 April at 09:03hrs.

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The body is yet to be formally identified, however officers stated: 

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"The family of Kaliyah Coa have been informed of this development and are being supported by specialist officers".

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The statement added:

“An update will be provided following formal identification…

Kaliyah’s family ask that privacy is respected at this time.”

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