Tributes to Xielo Maruziva left at Aylestone Meadows after body found

Cuddly toys, balloons, flowers and candles have been left at Aylestone Meadows in Leicester after a body was found in the search for missing toddler Xielo Maruziva. The two-year-old fell into the River Soar at the nature reserve in February, prompting extensive searches involving hundreds of police officers and specialists.

A body was found by workmen on Thursday (June 6), not far from where Xielo disappeared. Formal identification is yet to be announced, but it is understood the body is that of Xielo. A large area near Pebble Beach was cordoned off by police following the discovery. It has now re-opened.

Items have been left in Xielo's memory along a bridge at Pebble Beach following the lifting of the cordons. There is also a written tribute, which reads: “Our thoughts are with your family. You can now be with all the other angels.”

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The little boy fell into the water on Sunday, February 18, when he was walking along the towpath in Aylestone with his family.

Timeline of the search for Xielo:

• Timeline : Sunday, February 18 - a then unnamed two-year-old boy fell into the River Soar at Aylestone Meadows. A search was launched by emergency services.

• Monday, February 19 - multiple specialist teams from police forces across the country join the search

• Wednesday, February 21 - Xielo Maruziva is named as the boy who fell into the water. His family call him a “bundle of joy”.

• Friday, February 23 - Police vow to continue the search over the weekend.

• Monday, February 26 - Following calls from Xielo’s family, police announced that a private search team which helped to look for Nicola Bulley will be joining the operation. Police also confirm that the search area had been widened to include the River Soar around Watermead Park and Birstall.

• Tuesday, February 27 - Search Group International (SGI) joins the search and is seen in Aylestone Meadows

• Thursday, February 29 - SGI team members spotted in the River Soar close to the King Power Stadium

• Friday, March 1 - the search continues

• Sunday, March 10 - the search reaches three weeks to the day since Xielo Thursday, March 21 - the search for Xielo is scaled back

• Thursday, June 6 - police searching for Xielo recover a body from the River Soar, close to where the toddler fell into the water

Leicestershire Police said specialist officers were providing support to Xielo’s family in the wake of the discovery. Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said the find had been “devastating news” for all involved, saying it was the news “we were all dreading”.

Support was also being offered to the workmen who found the body, said the officer. ACC Kerr also gave her thanks to the public for its support throughout the search for Xielo.

She said: “Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the search for Xielo for your dedicated work in extremely traumatic circumstances and an extremely complex search. Thank you also to our communities and wider members of the public for your continued support.”

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