11-year-old boy recovered from Free State river after 10-day search
The body of an 11-year-old boy believed to have drowned in a Free State river has been recovered after a 10-day search involving police, rescue teams and community members.
Police spokesperson W/O Mmako Mophiring said Letlogang Reitumetse Mokakuoa was reported missing on September 19 after his friends allegedly witnessed him drowning in the Kgoptjane River in Phuthaditjhaba.
Mophiring said police and the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality rescue and divers team made several attempts to locate the boy’s body, but the search was hampered by adverse weather conditions.
A police helicopter was also used to scan the surrounding area during the search.
On Tuesday, community members noticed what appeared to be a human body trapped around a tree in the river and alerted police.
“Police responded to the scene and, together with the rescue team, retrieved the body,” Mophiring said.
The recovery brought closure to the family, who had been anxiously awaiting news of the child.