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.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 25 February 1928

Body of Boy Recovered

The body of a Mexborough boy, Walter Flint, of Wood Street, who fell into the Don at Swinton on Sunday afternoon nearly three weeks ago, was recovered yesterday from the river in the vicinity the L.N.E. Railway Stat on, Mexborough.