Major search for man who disappeared after getting into difficulty in River Thames

A major search operation is underway to find a man who disappeared after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Thames.

Several police vehicles and two dinghy's were seen on the embankments of the river at Hampton Court in west London on Sunday (August 14).

The Metropolitan Police said it had received reports of a man getting into difficulty in the water at around 4.12pm.

The huge rescue effort included the National Police Air Service and London Fire Brigade as well as the RNLI, but the man has still not been found.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "Officers from the Met and Surrey Police, the National Police Air Service, as well as the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and RNLI, began searching the river.

The Met Police said the man's next of kin were being kept informed (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)

"However despite the best efforts of everyone involved the man has not been found.

"Efforts to inform all of his next of kin are ongoing while work to recover the man continues."

Another man is in a serious condition in hospital in Scunthorpe after he got into difficulty while swimming in the water at Ashby Ville Nature Reserve.

Grimsby Telegraph reported that an emergency helicopter and several police vehicles were at the scene at around 3.30pm on Sunday, August 14.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "The man was treated by emergency services before being taken to hospital, where he currently remains in a serious condition.

"Officers remain in the area carrying out enquiries, and anyone with information or concerns is asked to speak to them."

A major search operation has been underway since police received reports of a man getting into difficulty (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)

Since the unprecedented heatwave in July, 13 people have drowned in British waterways as they tried to cool off from the hot weather.

The fatalities have prompted fresh warnings from fire services across the country, urging people not to enter unknown water despite the rising temperatures.

Earlier this week Surrey Fire and Rescue Service issued a stark warning after the body of a man was pulled from the River Thames on Friday, August 12.

A spokesperson said: "Do not jump into unknown water – it can be colder, shallower and faster flowing than it looks."

Among the other fatalities this summer have been a 16-year-old boy who was found dead after jumping into Bray Lake in Windsor, Berkshire.