Home People Accidents Deadly Don – Mexborough Schoolboy Snatched away by River

Deadly Don – Mexborough Schoolboy Snatched away by River

February 1928

Mexborough and Swinton Times February 17, 1928

Deadly Don

Mexborough Schoolboy Snatched away by River

The Rotherham West Riding Constabulary are searching for the body of Walter Flint (10), schoolboy, son of Walter Flint, labourer, of 26 Wood St, Mexborough, who fell into the river Don near Swinton L.N.E.R. .Station at 3:30 PM on Sunday.

It appears Flint and three other the boys left home about 2 p.m. to go to Sunday school, but instead went for a walk along the bank of the river. They were all playing, running up and down the bank which slope towards the river, when Flint fell backwards into the water.

The boys raised an alarm, and went and spoke to Mr John Mason (27) miner, of 17, Clayfield Road, Mexborough, and another man, who were about hundred yards away.

At first the men thought the boys were only joking, but on realising they were in earnest Mason ran to the bank and jumped into the river, but was unable to reach Flint as the river was very flooded and there was a fast current flowing, which swept him out of his reach.

PS Horn, assisted by other police officers searched until dark, but could not find any trace of the body. The police holds the view that it is likely the body was carried into Mexborough by the fast flowing current.

Up to last night the body had not been recovered.