Search teams locate body of 7-year-old missing in London’s Thames River

The body of a seven-year-old girl who went missing in London’s Thames River has been recovered by search teams near the campus of Western University, police say.

The girl, identified by friends and family as Anna Bielli, went missing on Thursday along the river near Adelaide Street and Kipps Lane, prompting a large-scale search and rescue effort involving boats, divers, and a police helicopter.

In a statement, police said a child’s remains were located in the river near Perth Drive and University Drive at around 1 pm Sunday. The location is more than three kilometers downstream from where Bielli was last seen.

“The remains are believed to be in relation to the ongoing missing person investigation from Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024,” read the police statement, which did not identify the victim.

“Prayers really moved heavens. They finally found my sweet Angel. Praise the Lord God,” Bielli’s mother, Karen Fermill, said in a post on Facebook early Sunday afternoon.

During a short news conference held at University Drive Bridge, police Insp. Sean Travis said the child’s remains were found just upstream of the news conference location by members of London police’s marine unit and the London Fire Department.

“It’s obviously a tragic occurrence for everyone involved, most importantly, the family,” he said, adding that supports have been made available to them.

“The officers and the searchers have put in some long, hard days. Exhaustive efforts in the weather we’ve had. But everyone’s been dedicated to their task.”

The multi-day search for Bielli began around 3 pm on Thursday, the day she went missing.

Rescue crews had received a report from the girl’s mother that the child had entered the water east of the Adelaide Street bridge and was then seen struggling, fire officials said.

Bielli had been near the river with her mother and two younger siblings, according to members of the family’s church, Anchor Church, who were at the scene on Thursday to support the family.

The church’s pastor, Sudhir Basumatary, told CBC News on Sunday that more information about funeral arrangements would be known on Tuesday.

“Although it’s a small church, we’re just trying to help,” he said.

A GoFundMe launched by a family friend had raised more than $3,000 as of late Sunday afternoon.

“We pray that Anna is found soon but her family is going to need all the support they can get,” reads the campaign’s description, written by Joe McRitchie.

“They still have Anna’s younger siblings and themselves that might need therapy support, they will also need help with funeral costs.”

McRitchie did not respond to a request for comment from CBC.

Upwards of 150 personnel were involved daily in the search effort, Travis said. Teams looked up and down the river, including as far west as the city limits.

On Saturday, search teams and a police helicopter could be seen flying over the river near Springbank Dam in the city’s west end, with the command post set up near Riverside Drive and Wonderland Road.

He added that it was a co-ordinated effort involving several agencies, including London police, Ontario Provincial Police, London Search and Rescue, Huron County Search and Rescue, the London Fire Department, and other volunteers.