Major update on the search for little Xielo Maruziva who fell into the river as police brought in Nicola Bulley ‘expert’
Police have called in a diving expert to help locate a two-year-old boy who fell into the River Soar.
Xielo Maruziva is still missing after falling into the river in Aylestone, Leicestershirelast Sunday when he was with his family.
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His father jumped in and desperately tried to save him before the boy was swept away by the water.
Police have now called in Peter Faulding – who helped in the search Nicola Bulley45, after she disappeared on January 27 last year.
Faulding, 61, said Leicestershire Police had ‘ignored’ his offer for more than a week after relatives asked him to help search for little Xielo.
Xielo’s grandmother, Kayela Smith, said police had “refused” help from Peter and his team at Special Group International (SGI) – despite him offering to work for free.
However, police announced today that they would allow the group to assist in the search from tomorrow.
Wrong has been CEO of SGI since 1995.
Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said: “We remain grateful for the support we have received from the public and colleagues from other forces and agencies.
“We are in regular contact with Xielo’s family and continue to support them at what remains a deeply distressing time.
“Our search to locate Xielo is increasing as we know he may have traveled beyond where he entered the water – and possibly outside our battle zone.
“I would like to reassure you that our operation is continuing and our teams will be conducting coordinated searches at various points along the river.
“Our decision to involve SGI in the search was made in collaboration with Xielo’s family and after speaking with both the company and independent specialists.
“I would also like to remind the public that the river is dangerous and that they should not enter the water themselves. Thank you.”
The force also said that they had now expanded the search parameter along the river.
Yesterday, Peter said about helping to find Xielo: “The family begged me to help them find it.
“I said I would do it for free, my team is ready to get started straight away.
‘We have the best equipment in the world and I have an impeccable reputation for finding ten drowning victims every year.
“We are not an amateur team. But we have been ignored by the police.
“We have been making continuous requests since Wednesday to help find Xielo, but we have not heard back. Or they have said that they have sufficient resources.
“This isn’t about hating the police – it’s about finding a two-year-old boy, the same age as my own grandson.”
Peter previously led the private search for Nicola after she disappeared while walking her dog at St Michael’s in Wyre, Lancashire
During the search, Peter claimed he found Nicola’s body “within six minutes” and was later criticized in a report for causing “undue distress”.
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