A desperate search for an autistic five-year-old boy has come to a tragic end, after police pulled a body from the Georges River.
Essa Dennaoui was last seen on Epsom Street in Chipping Norton in Sydney’s southwest about 6.35pm on Thursday.
When Essa could not be located, frantic family members alerted police, who immediately launched an urgent search which also involved locals.
Police held graves concerns for Essa’s whereabouts as he had autism and was non verbal.
A NSW Police spokesman confirmed a body had been pulled from the nearby river several streets away shortly after 10pm.
The body is yet to be formally identified but believed to be that of the missing boy.
Essa’s loved ones sadly confirmed the tragic news on social media later that night.
The desperate search for five-year-old Essa Dennaoui came to a tragic end on Thursday night
Community members joined the search for Essa, with grave fears for his safety from the outset
Police led search efforts for Essa, which ended at the Georges River on Thursday evening
‘Little Essa has just been found past away (drowned) he’s being taken out of the Georges River right now. May Allah give he’s family patience,’ they posted.
Another person wrote: ‘I’m lost for words what a beautiful boy, may Allah give the family patience and ease at this difficult time.’
‘Poor baby, may Allah give his family strength.’
Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun added: ‘Heaven has gained another Angel’.
‘May his parents and family be granted strength.’
Police are not treating the drowning as suspicious and will prepare a report for the coroner.
The tragedy takes Australia’s drowning toll to 35 since the start of summer on December 1.
Police had appealed for the public’s assistance in the hours before Essa’s body was found
The search came to a tragic end on Thursday night
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