The body of an 11-year-old boy has been found in the Broken River at Shepparton in northeast Victoria, a day after he jumped into the water and did not resurface. Victoria Police said emergency services were called to the river about 2.45pm on Monday.
Police and the State Emergency Services began searching the river after reports the boy had jumped in and had not resurfaced. His body was found on Tuesday morning, police said.
Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and that a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Former Collingwood player Chris Egan posted on social media on Tuesday morning, before the body was found, that the boy was his little cousin, and called on friends, family and footy clubs in Shep to join the search. "Friends, family, footy clubs in Shep, please come out and join the search," he wrote. "We need everyone right now."
Egan was drafted to the AFL via the Murray Bushrangers and Indigenous-led club Rumbalara.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The death of a child in a public waterway has shocked Shepparton, a regional city where football clubs and family networks are closely connected.
- Police have ruled out suspicion, shifting the focus to the coronial process and how the circumstances of the boy's death are examined.
- The search drew public appeals from people with local profiles, reflecting how quickly such an incident becomes a community-wide event.
Background
Shepparton sits in northeast Victoria on the Broken River, a waterway that runs through the city and is a familiar feature of the local landscape. The river has flooded in the past, and its flows and channels are part of everyday life for residents. The boy's body was found the morning after he entered the water, following a search by police and the State Emergency Service.
What to Watch
- Victoria Police has said a report will be prepared for the coroner, which will formally examine the circumstances of the death.
- Any further police statement on the search or the boy's identity.
- How the Shepparton community, including local football clubs, responds in the coming days.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe body of an 11-year-old boy was found in the Broken River at Shepparton.The Age - Latest News: “Emergency services were called to the Broken River on Monday afternoon at about 2.45pm after reports that the boy had jumped into the river and had not resurfaced, Victoria Police said. ... The boy’s body was found on Tuesday morning, police said.”
- SupportedThe boy jumped into the river and did not resurface the day before his body was found.The Age - Latest News: “An 11-year-old boy has died after jumping into a Shepparton river in northeast Victoria on Monday afternoon. ... The boy’s body was found on Tuesday morning, police said.”
- SupportedVictoria Police said emergency services were called to the river at about 2.45pm on Monday.The Age - Latest News: “Emergency services were called to the Broken River on Monday afternoon at about 2.45pm after reports that the boy had jumped into the river and had not resurfaced, Victoria Police said.”
- SupportedPolice and the State Emergency Services began searching the river after reports the boy had jumped in and not resurfaced.The Age - Latest News: “Emergency services were called to the Broken River on Monday afternoon at about 2.45pm after reports that the boy had jumped into the river and had not resurfaced, Victoria Police said. ... Police and the State Emergency Services initiated a search of the river.”
- SupportedPolice said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner.The Age - Latest News: “Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and that a report would be prepared for the coroner.”
- SupportedFormer Collingwood player Chris Egan posted on social media that the boy was his little cousin.The Age - Latest News: “Ex-Collingwood player Chris Egan shared on social media that the boy was “his little cousin”.”
- SupportedEgan wrote, “Friends, family, footy clubs in Shep, please come out and join the search,”The Age - Latest News: ““Friends, family, footy clubs in Shep, please come out and join the search,” Egan posted on Tuesday morning before emergency services found his body.”
- SupportedEgan wrote, “We need everyone right now.”The Age - Latest News: ““We need everyone right now.””
- SupportedEgan posted the appeal on Tuesday morning, before the body was found.The Age - Latest News: ““Friends, family, footy clubs in Shep, please come out and join the search,” Egan posted on Tuesday morning before emergency services found his body.”
- SupportedEgan was drafted to the AFL via the Murray Bushrangers and Indigenous-led club Rumbalara.The Age - Latest News: “He was drafted to the AFL via the Murray Bushrangers and Indigenous-led club Rumbalara.”