ELANDSFONTEIN, TSHWANE- Police divers recovered the body of a two-year-old boy from a tributary of Hartbeespoort Dam on Friday, following an intensive overnight search operation near Elandsfontein, Tshwane. The toddler disappeared Thursday afternoon while playing in a field near the river.

SAPS called in the National Sea Rescue Institute at 4am, Friday 20 December to assist in an ongoing search for a 2 year old, according to NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station commander Arthur Crewe. The emergency response grew to include Police Water Policing and Diving Services, K9 Search and Rescue units, and Tshwane Emergency Services, conducting an extensive search operation.

“The family reportedly had last seen the child playing in the field in the vicinity of the river area near Hartbeespoort Dam but after failing to return home the alarm was raised,” Crewe said.

Search teams deployed a police helicopter and swift water rescue swimmers to scour the river and surrounding areas near the N4 Magalies Freeway.

Police divers located and recovered the child’s body from the river during the operation. Authorities transferred the remains to Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police opened an inquest into the incident while rescue services expressed support for the grieving family.

“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased child. All services involved in the search embrace the family of the deceased child with care, compassion, and thoughts in this difficult time,” Crewe said.