Missing Daniel 'cannot swim'
Daniel Entwistle, the missing seven-year-old who police fear could have fallen into a river, cannot swim and has a learning disorder which can affect his awareness of danger, police said tonight.
Daniel vanished from his home in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, late on Saturday and is feared to have fallen into the River Yare.
A bicycle police believe to be the youngster’s was found by the river and a boy matching his description was caught on CCTV at a nearby petrol station shortly after Daniel was last seen.
Detectives stress that they are still considering all options and have not ruled out the possibility that Daniel has been abducted, but one theory being considered is that Daniel was playing on the wall bordering the river and fell about 15 feet into the water below.
“Daniel has an attention deficit disorder, a medical condition” said Detective Superintendent Julian Gregory, who is leading the investigation into the little boy’s disappearance.
“One aspect of that condition is that he would not have been aware of risk in the way you and I would be.”
Daniel’s father David Entwistle, 41, said his son suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder and did not like water.
“If he had gone into water it’s a complete tragedy,” said Mr Entwistle. “He could not swim at all.”
