A TRAGIC toddler died after he slipped and fell into a swollen river while on a walk with his aunts, an inquest heard.
Xielo Maruziva, two, was out in Aylestone Meadows, Leicester, in February 2024 when he “disappeared from view” into the River Soar.
A massive search involving almost 200 officers, specialist divers, drones, helicopters, and sonar equipment was launched to find the youngster.
Underwater search experts from Specialist Group International, the organisation that searched for Nicola Bulley after she disappeared, were also brought in at the request of Xielo’s family.
Tragically, the toddler’s body was discovered on June 7 in a stream close to where he entered the water.
An inquest heard Xielo had been picked up from his dad Bradley’s home by his two aunts Nicole and Memory Maruziva before the tragedy.
He was walking ahead of his relatives when he fell into the water at around 5pm.
In police bodycam, one of his aunts told an officer: “I think he just slipped”.
Coroner Professor Catherine Mason said: “On that evening water level was very high and the river was flowing fast following flooding due to heavy rainfall.”
Detective Inspector Kevin Hames, of Leicester Police, who investigated the incident, told the court the area was a designated flood plain.
But he explained the public wouldn’t have been aware unless they saw warnings on the Environment Agency website.
The extent of the flooding also “wasn’t apparent” until visitors who accessed the area along a footpath reached the river, the officer added.
He continued: “On the body-worn video the water level is level with the path.
“There is no demarcation between the path ending and where the water rises to. It could distort your viewpoint if you haven’t been there before.
“I was quite shocked by the amount of water in that location.”
Det Insp Hames said CCTV footage taken from the area showed Xielo was held in his aunts’ arms before he “was put down and appeared to run off”.
He told the inquest: “A member of the public told us that Xielo’s aunts were taking a photo with him held in their arms on a bridge, so we do have evidence he was being held at some point.”
The officer said other footage showed the youngster running ahead, then Nicole and Memory Maruziva catching up with him to allow a cyclist and dog walker to pass.
Pathologist Dr Frances Hollingbury told the hearing the cause of Xielo’s death was the “effects of immersion”.
She added: “The mechanism is most likely drowning, although I can’t ignore the fact that being immersed in cold water does funny things to the body. I recorded the cause of death as immersion to cover both possibilities.
“It would have been an extremely short period of time, if any at all, before Xielo was unconscious.”
Paying tribute ahead of the inquest, Xielo’s mum Kayela Smith said he was a “cheeky, friendly, smart, caring and independent little boy”.
She added: “He was deeply loved, and gave us a lifetime of love, and memories that we will hold forever.
“He brought endless joy to everyone around him, and lit up every room he walked into He had the biggest personality for such a small little boy. He never failed to make me laugh.
“As he grew, he became curious and adventurous. He was my best friend, my soul twin and my whole world.
“I miss all the memories we shared. Above all, I miss waking up to your beautiful smiling little face.
“Even though our time together was far too short, the love we shared will live forever.”
His dad told the court “happy and joyful little boy” who was “fearless and loved to go to dogs in the park and stroke them”.
Bradley added: “I think about what he would have been when he got older, and what he would have achieved in life.”
The inquest, which is expected to last five days, continues.
