Body of 12-year-old girl recovered from river after search

A 12-year-old girl has died after getting into difficulty in a river in West Dunbartonshire.

The girl’s body was recovered from the River Leven, near Balloch Bridge, after a three-hour search on Sunday.

Emergency services were called to Balloch around 6.45pm and she was recovered from the water around 9.45pm.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and her family have been informed.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Around 6.45pm on Sunday, August 9, police were called to a report of a 12-year-old girl in difficulty in the River Leven, near Balloch Bridge.

“Emergency services attended and searches were carried out. Around 9.45pm, the young girl was recovered from the water. Sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Her relatives have been informed. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident, but the death is not being treated as suspicious and a full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Councillor Jonathan McColl, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, said the news was “devastating”.

He said: “This has been a real shock for the community.

“For such a young life to be lost in this way is devastating and I can’t imagine what her parents are going through.”

Gordon Watson, chief executive at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, said: “On Sunday evening national park rangers on our patrol boat and members of the Lomond Rescue Boat team assisted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland in their search for a missing person in the River Leven.

“We are deeply saddened by the outcome of this tragic incident and our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the young person who sadly lost their life.”