Police investigate unexplained death of 11-year-old girl in Midlothian

Police Scotland is investigating the death of an 11-year-old girl whose body was discovered in the Gore Water near Shank Bridge in Midlothian. Emergency services were alerted to concerns for the girl in the Gore Glen area around 12:40 PM on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

A search operation concluded around 4:25 PM when the girl was found in the river and pronounced dead at the scene. Responding agencies included the Scottish Ambulance Service, which dispatched a special operations team and a critical care paramedic, as well as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Authorities are treating the death as unexplained. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for next week to determine the cause of death, and investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.