Tragedy at River Tees: Body found in search for missing 13-year-old Mylo Capilla
Heartbreak as Search Ends in Discovery
A body has been found in the desperate hunt for 13-year-old Mylo Capilla, who vanished after entering the River Tees near Ingleby Barwick on Thursday night.
Mylo was last spotted around 9pm on June 26, wearing a dark t-shirt and trousers. His mum raised the alarm, triggering a massive multi-agency search involving police divers, rescue boats, drones, and helicopters.
Police Confirm Grim Find
Cleveland Police revealed on Friday that a boy’s body was discovered in the river near “The Muddies,” close to Ramsey Gardens – the heart of the frantic operation.
“Very sadly, police and partner agencies searching the river for 13-year-old Mylo Capilla at Ingleby Barwick have found the body of a boy,” a spokesperson said. “Whilst formal identification has yet to take place, Mylo’s parents have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.”
The search involved Cleveland Mountain Rescue, Cleveland Fire Brigade, and North East Ambulance Service.
Heartbroken Father Speaks Out
Mylo’s dad, Dan Capilla, 43, described the traumatic wait as “numbing.” He last saw his son around 4pm on Thursday when Mylo dropped by with a friend.
“He gave me a big hug and said ‘love you’ and was playing with the dog. Then he left,” Dan said. “He’s always joking and wants to make people laugh. He would never just go missing or hide – this is completely out of character.”
Dan stayed by the river through the night and into Friday, joining the ongoing search backed by sonar, drones, and diving teams.
Community in Mourning and Warning
The tight-knit Ingleby Barwick community is reeling. Tributes flood in for Mylo, remembered as a “loving, caring boy who always wanted to make people laugh.”
Residents initially joined the search, despite police warnings about the steep, dangerous riverbanks and strong undercurrents of the River Tees. Police had said Mylo had entered the water with a friend before disappearing.
What’s Next?
Formal identification of the body will happen in the coming days, followed by a post-mortem to pinpoint the cause of death.
Police have stressed there are no suspicious circumstances and are preparing a report for the coroner.
