Toddler missing after river fall

RESCUE workers have spent all day searching the Garonne river in Bordeaux after a 21-month-old girl fell from a bridge.

The girl's father had been walking with his daughter on the Pont de Pierre in the city centre when he alerted the emergency services at about 20.00 on Friday evening.

There are conflicting reports as to whether the toddler was sitting on the bridge wall or walking along it.

In his statement to police, the father said he had taken his daughter out of the pushchair and had briefly let go of her hand to watch a passing tram.

He remains in custody. There are reportedly no other witnesses.

The fire brigade deployed two boats with thermal imaging cameras to search the river and police have also been searching the banks.

It is feared the girl could have been carried a long way by the strong currents.

Less than a fortnight ago, a four-month-old baby disappeared in the same area after falling into the Garonne. In that case, the child's father was charged with murder.

Photo: Peter Gugerell/Wikimedia