Missing Child Guidance

In the unfortunate incident that a child goes missing during club activities or at events it is important to remember that most children are found within a few minutes of their disappearance. British Triathlon provide the following guidance in relation to the actions that should be taken in this occurrence: 

Any incidents of a missing child should be raised to either a Marshal / Super Marshal or the Race Director immediately. physical description of the young person to include approximate height, build, hair and eye colour in addition to what they were last seen wearing, where and when they were last seen.  

Communications should be made to all Marshalls with description of missing person. 

Organised search; adults in groups of 2 or more to fully search specified areas, particularly obvious areas of danger such as water.  

Ensure that there is a single point of contact for all individuals searching to report back to.  

A record all of the events that have occurred will be kept;  

If the person has not been found within 20 minutes the Police should be informed, even if the search has not been fully completed.  

• Once you have contacted the Police, they will advise if further action is required before their involvement.  

• If the Police act upon your report, follow their guidance and requests for progressing the search.  

• As soon as the young person is located be sure to communicate this to all individuals involved in the search. 

Last Reviewed: May 2025