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THE heartbroken family of a nine-year-old girl who died after entering the River Thames have paid tribute to their “beautiful angel”.
Emergency services had been frantically searching for the child who disappeared under the water by the Royal Terrace Pier, in Gravesend, Kent on May 30.
She has now been named on social media as “Bia” and is understood to have been just nine years old.
The alarm was raised at about 1:45pm yesterday after two children got into difficulty in the river.
It is understood Bia was playing with her cousin near the water when she slipped and the current pulled her in.
A young boy was quickly recovered whilst an urgent rescue operation was carried out for Bia.
Devastated members of her family, reportedly from Romania, say she “had her whole life ahead of her” but “but she had the life that was decided by God”.
Last night, relative Mirela Turcanu posted on social media: “Oh, she left us speechless, this little girl had her whole life ahead of her, but she had the life that was decided by God.
“Smooth road to heaven, my niece.”
Leon Alkapone described her as “my niece, my beautiful angel”.
Another post said: “Rest In Peace, Little Angel, Bia. May God comfort the grieving family.”
At 11.40am on Saturday, a body was recovered from the river, near Gravesend and formal identification by the girl’s next of kin took place.
Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
It is understood Bia was playing with her cousin near the water when she slipped and the current pulled her in.
The boy saved from the water during the initial search remains at a local hospital in a stable condition.
Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Metropolitan Police boats and the RNLI were called to assist with the search.
A police helicopter and South East Coast Ambulance Service were also sent to the scene.
Kent Police was called by the Port of London Authority.
