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The body of a 6-year-old girl who went missing on Tuesday afternoon was found floating in a river in Kyowa, Hokkaido, on Thursday morning.
Police said it appeared that Runa Hirano had fallen into the Horikappu River and drowned, Fuji TV reported.
According to police, Runa told her mother she was going outside to play on Tuesday afternoon, but when she did not return at the promised time, her mother phoned police. Police found a rubber ball Runa had been playing with approximately two kilometers downstream in the river which is near her home. Four kilometers downstream, one of the young girl's sneakers was discovered.
About 120 police and local volunteers searched for Runa all day Wednesday. A resident called 110 at 5 a.m. Thursday to report a body on a sandbar in the river.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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Nessie
The Hokkaido rivers are frigid and treacherous in this season.
Disillusioned
I'm not saying it caused this tragedy, but everyone should teach their kids to swim. Very sad for the parents.
papigiulio
@disillusioned, not disagreeing with you but the power of a river should not be underestimated, it can pull down the strongest man, kids stand no chance. My heart goes out to the family.
Takuma7
RIP little one, your parents should have been watching you.
nath
Definitely not a good way to start out a new school year. Very sad to hear of this news, saw it on TV and I feared the worst. Rest in Peace.
Mirai Hayashi
Terribly sad!
UK9393
@Pap: Often it's not the actually act of swimming that saves you, but the skills that you've learnt when leaning to swim. Don't panic, go with the flow get yourself to a bank. Even make a float out of clothes, (Trousers off, tie a knot in each leg at the bottom, whip it over your head quickly into the water: you got yourself a rudimentary float) get heavy clothes --especially coat-- off... etc. I know, from experience.
NathalieB
A river close by and a 6 year old playing unsupervised?
IfeelImust
Ugg. Everyone wants to judge here but just spend a moment for mom and dad. RIP little one.
justbcuzisay
I am very sad this little girl has died, therefore I am disgusted with her parents for not understanding that a six year old can not be left to play outside (with water nearby) all alone. Accidents happen , of course. But this was not a simple accident, it was neglect. Poor girl deserved more caring parents.
Aaron Lloyd Brummett
"everyone should teach their kids to swim"....
like it or not, accidents still happen... even to the best of swimmers.
Prayers to the family and I assign no blame!