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[Wolf_Larson]

Dozens of friends and relatives have joined a massive search operation for a 14-year-old boy who went missing in a river in County Antrim.

It is understood James Elliott jumped into the River Bush at Stranocum to rescue a dog and was swept away.

[666_pack]

any news on this wolf?

[Wolf_Larson]

The body of a boy has been recovered from the River Bush in Stranocum, County Antrim.

The discovery was made during a search for 14-year-old James Elliott who jumped into the river to rescue a dog on Thursday and was swept away.

The search included the Coastguard, Bann River Rescue, RAF, Royal Navy, Fire and Rescue Service, police search teams and the police helicopter.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out on the boy's body later.

Dozens of friends and relatives had taken part in the massive search operation.

James was a pupil at Dalriada Grammar School in Ballymoney and a talented footballer with Linfield FC's youth section.

[Wolf_Larson]

The thoughts of everyone connected with Linfield Football Club are with the family and friends of James Elliott, a 14 year old Linfield Academy player who is currently missing in North Antrim.

We pray for a miracle and hope that James can be found alive and well.

We wish success and strength to those who are involved in the search and trust that their endeavours will see the boy quickly reunited with his nearest and dearest.

Audaces Fortuna Juvat

[Wolf_Larson]

An emotional vigil was held at the weekend for teenager James Elliott who died trying to save a dog in a Co Antrim river.

Around 200 family members, friends and rescue workers gathered on Saturday by the River Bush in Stranocum, where the 14 year-old died, to pay their respects.

James’s heartbroken mother Margaret took the opportunity during the vigil to thank rescue workers for their help recovering her son’s body from the river.

The Dalriada Grammar School pupil was swept away in the swollen river at around 3pm on Thursday. He had been out walking along the river at Stranocum with a teenage friend when he tried to assist a Labrador dog that appeared to be in difficulties in the river.

He went into the river to try to help the animal but then got into difficulties himself. His friend tried to assist James.

The boy was rescued as was the dog.

The missing boy’s father Clive and a friend were quickly on the scene but were unable to rescue him from the river.

James’s body was recovered at 2pm on Saturday at a bridge between Dervock and Stranocum after a major search operation involving the Coastguard, Bann River Rescue, RAF, Royal Navy, Fire and Rescue Service, police search teams and the police helicopter.

Dozens of friends and relatives had also taken part in the search.

James has been described by his father as a “loving young fella”.

“He is a loving young fella, a very kind kid,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.

Tom Skelton, James’s headmaster at Dalriada Grammar, said: “I was devastated when I heard about it. As a parent myself I try to empathise with what it’s like but it’s your worst fear.”

James was a talented footballer within the youth ranks of Irish league side, Linfield.

Head coach of Linfield academy David Chisholm described the budding star as an “absolute pleasure” to work with.

The teenager, who represented Linfield at this year's Foyle Cup, had been due to travel with his under-14 teammates over the weekend to a competition in the Republic, but it was called off by club officials as a mark of respect.

A post mortem examination is expected to be carried out before the boy’s body could be returned to the family.

[666_pack]

they will be in my thoughts

[Wolf_Larson]

Im sure you speck for us all on NI WILD 666_pack, All my regards to family and friends.  From a true Blue David McCrum

[pablo]

did you know the lad then Wolf?

[Wolf_Larson]

No pablo, just found it very sad.

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