Child's body pulled from water in search for Queensland boy

Queensland police have confirmed they have retrieved a child’s body from the Johnstone River, believed to be that of missing three-year-old, Jamal Little.

A police spokesman said water police had found a body in the river at around 6pm during the search for the toddler, who disappeared yesterday afternoon while playing with children on a nearby wharf.

The spokesman said the parents had asked them to thank all those who had participated in the search.

Earlier today, father Bryce Little said Jamal had run off yesterday morning and was a keen fisherman, but that he could not swim.

“He said to me, ‘Daddy I’m going to cast a lure’, and I yelled at him, ‘No you’re not running off again, get back here,’” he told reporters this morning.

“I raced up here, thinking he might be in the park again, or fishing on the pontoon, he’s a pretty good little fisherman, but he wasn’t on the pontoon.”

Earlier today, police said they were hopeful he had just wandered off.

Volunteers from the SES and police divers, as well as a rescue chopper, scoured the area today for any signs of the boy.