Specialist teams search lake for missing 13-year-old boy
Ryan Evans was last seen in the water at Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent on Monday afternoon.
Searches have been continuing for a third day to locate a 13-year-old boy who went missing at a lake.
Ryan Evans disappeared after getting into difficulties in Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent on Monday afternoon.
Two other youngsters, aged 12 and 13, managed to get out by themselves.
Police divers and specially trained water rescue fire and ambulance crews have also been deployed since the alarm was first raised at 5pm on Monday.
Chief Inspector John Owen said there was no estimate how long the searches may take, amid the “complexities” of the terrain, including the sheer size of the lake.
He said: “We appreciate we are now almost 48 hours into the search for 13-year-old Ryan Evans and we continue to do all that we can to locate him.
“Westport Lake is a hugely expansive area and at this time, we are unable to estimate how long the search might take.
“Conditions at the lake are such that we have shoulder-to-shoulder walking search teams in the water, divers and underwater search technology.
“We also have teams continuing to search the surrounding perimeter of the lake.”
He added: “Our thoughts remain with Ryan’s family during this extremely upsetting time.”
Ryan is a pupil at Stoke’s Haywood Academy.
A school spokeswoman said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the current situation.
“During this difficult period we have made sure that professional support is in place for students to access.”
