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FORMAL IDENTIFICATION HAS YET TO TAKE PLACE 17:25, 29 May 2025 Police searching for a missing teenage girl near who "toppled off" a dam near Ripponden have have found a body.

Emergency services arrived at the scene after the 13-year-old fell into the water in Baitings Reservoir in front of her dad while taking a photograph. Search and rescue teams, including an

underwater search team, launched an operation to find the girl, who has been missing since May 27. _JOIN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS WHATSAPP GROUP HERE_ West Yorkshire Police has now

confirmed that a body was discovered earlier this afternoon. The force said that formal identification has yet to be carried out, but the body is believed to be that of the missing child.

Police also confirmed that they do not believe the death to be suspicious. Article continues below Detective Inspector Laura Hall of Calderdale’s Safeguarding Team said: “While formal

identification is yet to take place, the girl’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers. “My thoughts go out to her family and friends at this very

sad time.“Our enquiries are continuing into the death in order to establish exactly what happened yesterday, but we do not believe it to be suspicious.” Speaking to MailOnline, a relative of

the girl who did not wish to be named said: "It is absolutely tragic. My poor 13-year-old niece was just taking a photograph when she toppled off the dam wall to the water below. I

think she hit her head as she has fallen." They added: "The family often come here together. Normally, mum, dad all the kids come here. The family went for a lovely walk here last

week. As as I heard she had fallen into the water I rushed up here to see if I could help in the search." Police underwater search teams joined firefighters and paramedics at the

Yorkshire Water reservoir, with police boats also confirmed to have been in attendance. Article continues below In a previous statement issued by West Yorkshire Police on Wednesday, a force

spokesperson said: "Shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon police were called to a report a girl had fallen into water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden."