A SIX-year-old boy who died after he was pulled from a river was part of a Beaver activity trip when the tragedy happened.

Laurence Cawley

A SIX-year-old boy who died after he was pulled from a river was part of a Beaver activity trip when the tragedy happened.

The child was found in an isolated spot of the River Stour near Quay lane in Sudbury just before 7.30pm, close to Ballingdon Bridge.

He was taken to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds by ambulance but he later died.

Today police confirmed the boy was part of an organized group on the river and said he was pulled from the river by one of the supervisors.

He was a Beaver Scout who belonged to the 1st Acton and Waldingfield Scout Group in Suffolk, a Scout Association spokesman said.

The boy's parents, who are local, were called to the area. They are now being offered support from the police.

A spokeswoman for the police said: “We can confirm that the six year old was a local boy who was on an organised trip with other young people by the river.

“An investigation into his death is underway with the assistance of partner agencies, and the death is currently being treated as unexplained. The cordons around the riverbank were lifted last night.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the boy and we are offering them any support they may need during this difficult time, as we seek to establish the circumstances which led to this tragic death.”

The police have also confirmed they are working with “partner agencies” in a bid to establish what had happened.

The spokeswoman said: “He was found by someone supervising a group of children by the river, and his parents came quickly to the scene.

“The death is being treated as unexplained.”

Anybody with information is asked to contact Ann Naylor at Sudbury CID on 01473 613500.