Mum screams 'the back door was open' as missing boy, 5, was pulled from river

Mum screams ‘the back door was open’ as missing boy, 5, was pulled from river

TERRIFIED neighbours heard a mum scream “the back door was open” before her missing five-year-old son was found dead in a river.

Dozens of officers – who are keeping an “open mind” – have been searching the surrounding areas after body of the missing child was found in the Ogmore River in Bridgend, Wales.

A boy, 5, has died after being pulled from the riverCredit: WNS

Forensic teams were seen at the sceneCredit: WNS

Detectives say they are keeping an 'open mind' over the death — Detectives say they are keeping an ‘open mind’ over the deathCredit: WNS

He was taken to Princess of Wales Hospital after being found at 5.45am yesterday morning – as it was confirmed that the child had passed away.

An investigation is ongoing and police are keen to hear from anyone who may have information about how the child ended up in the water.

Officers were seen searching the paths and fields in the surrounding Sarn area.

Residents in the surrounding terraced houses said how they were woken at around 5.30am by the boy’s mother screaming “the back door was open.”

One neighbour told the Mail: “I could hear the mum screaming for her son. She was shouting ‘the back door was open’ and calling for him.

“A short while later the old bill turned up and they’ve been here ever since.”

Other neighbours said they were woken by shouts coming from the downstairs property.

One woman said: “I could hear a row going off. I think the mother was on the phone to the police.”

TRAGIC ORDEAL

Another female resident said: “The police have been going door-to-door and asking questions and they’ve been looking in the park all day.”

Large parts of Pandy Park in Sarn were sealed off as police forensics teams swooped the area.

Chief Inspector Geraint White said: “Our condolences go out to the family of the young boy and our thoughts are with them.

“The local neighbourhood police team will continue to support and speak to residents in the area, and I encourage people to talk to them if they have any concerns.

“‘We are keeping an open mind and are working hard to establish the full circumstances of his death so that we can provide answers to his family.

“This is a tragic incident in which a young child has sadly lost their life.

‘”We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or who has any information, to get in touch.

“We would ask the public not to speculate about this incident on social media as this is an active investigation.

“If you have any information that can help, please report this to us. Our thoughts are with the family and we are supporting them in every way we can.”

Anyone with information can phone 101 and use the reference number 2100268674.