THE SEARCH to find a two-year-old boy who fell into a river in Leicestershire is to be scaled back.

Xielo Maruziva was reported to have fallen into the River Soar, in the Marsden Lane area of Aylestone Meadows, at around 5pm on Sunday February 18.

In an announcement today, Leicestershire Police said that “additional specialist resources from across the country” will no longer be at the scene.

According to reports, a member of Xielo’s family jumped into the river to try and locate him but was unable to do so.

Despite the best efforts of people at the scene and emergency services who were immediately deployed to the area, Xielo was not located.

Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “To reach more than a month on from Xielo first being reported missing without being able to locate him and return him to his family despite all the team’s efforts is heartbreaking.

“I know this extreme pain is felt by all who have been involved in the search over the past month, in all conditions, determined to find little Xielo and to provide answers to his family.”

She added Xielo’s family will continue to be supported.

Search

“Our search for Xielo has continued to take a staged approach and during the coming weeks while additional specialist resources from across the country will no longer be at the scene, our own force teams will continue to carry out regular patrols both on the water and along the river banks.

“Search and Rescue teams will also continue to provide support to us where they can. This staged approach will of course remain under review and we continue to seek advice going forward and to act on any information received. Our priority is and always has been to find Xielo.”

She also thanked everyone involved in the search for Xielo, who has been described as “a bundle of joy” by his family.

Over the last five weeks, five specialist search and rescue teams from across the country have also supported the ongoing search for the toddler.

More than 200 officers have been involved in the operation and more than 2,000 hours voluntarily in the search to find Xielo.