- Child Xielo Maruziva missing
- Search hindered by weather
- Public’s help appreciated
Leicester Police have identified Xielo Maruziva, a two-year-old child who was reported missing after falling into a river.
Xielo entered the River Soar in the vicinity of Aylestone at approximately 17:00 GMT on Sunday.
A police search for him, which has been ongoing for four days and has involved specialised squads, has been impeded by inclement weather.
His family has characterised Xielo as “a bundle of joy.”
In a statement, his family commended everyone who assisted in the ongoing search.
His mother remarked, “Xielo is a spunky, affable, intelligent, considerate, and self-reliant young boy.”
“He never fails to make me smile or laugh, and he enjoys giving hugs and kisses.”
“Xielo enjoys watching cartoons, including Bino and Fino, and playing with his toys.”
“His father, myself, and the entire family are in absolute anguish over what has transpired.
Everyone who has assisted and supported us during this period is greatly appreciated. Our only objective is for Xielo to be found without delay.”
The pursuit of Xielo by Leicestershire Police has been aided by a number of specialised squads.
Previously, officers stated that they had obtained CCTV footage that they believed captured the youngster falling into the river.
His father, who entered the water in an attempt to save Xielo, remarked, “He has just begun nursery school and is an endearing and imaginative young boy.
“He enjoys cuddling, visiting the park, and playing with his toys.”
“Over the past few days, our family has been in an absolute state of devastation as the search for Xielo continues.” It is difficult to put into words the agony and anguish that we are experiencing.
“We wish to extend our gratitude to the search teams that were present at the location.
“We wish to extend our gratitude to the general public for their unwavering support as well.” Your prayers are the very things that sustain our strength.”
Michaela Kerr, Assistant Chief Constable, stated that unfavourable weather conditions on Wednesday hampered the search.
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She confirmed that the matter was still under investigation as a missing person enquiry.
She stated that as the search for the missing child enters its fourth day, the support we have received from communities and the general public, in addition to forces and other agencies from across the country, has been truly overwhelming.
Despite the fact that the current weather conditions impede our search efforts, our specialised and devoted teams on the scene will continue to do everything possible.
Tuesday saw the addition of marine recovery dogs from the Metropolitan Police and rescue squads from the forces of Kent and West Mercia to the operation.
Supporting ground-based officers have been the National Police Air Service and a drone unit; night-vision goggles have been utilised by teams to scour the water at night.
Additionally, officers of the Environment Agency provided specialised mapping apparatus to aid the police in identifying critical search areas.
Leicestershire Police stated that a “considerable quantity of responses” had been received in response to an appeal for witnesses.
The force has, nevertheless, cautioned members of the public against conducting their own searches.
