Police search the river at London Bridge
(Picture: Handout)A young man has died after falling into the River Thames near London Bridge as temperatures plunged to -3°C.
The 21-year-old’s body was later recovered from the bank following a huge search by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit, City of London and RNLI.
Concerns were raised after a man was seen entering the river around 5.30pm on Monday.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene but despite extensive searches he could not be found.
Scotland Yard said: “At 9.25pm the body of a man was recovered from the banks of the water at London Bridge. He is believed to be the man seen entering the water earlier.
“Police are working to confirm his identity and inform next of kin. The circumstances of the death are not being treated as suspicious.”
A security guard, working at a nearby building, described the dramatic rescue operation.
He said on Wednesday: “There were police boats with spotlight in the water for hours. They were shouting and looking for signs of life, I think.
“I was told they were responding after someone jumped in. It’s horrible to think of someone dying in that way just before Christmas.
“There’s no way they could survive for 10 minutes, let alone hours. It’s freezing.”
The tragedy comes after three boys died from falling through the ice at Babbs Mill Lake in Solihull, West Midlands on Sunday.
Three – aged 11, 10 and eight – were deceased when pulled from the water. A fourth boy, aged six, remains in critical condition in hospital.
England World Cup star Jude Bellingham, 19, born in nearby Stourbridge, paid tribute to them, posting an image of grieving locals gathered at a candlelit vigil with the words: “Sending love and support to the families RIP.”
A relative of one of the boys who died spoke of the unimaginable pain faced by the youngsters’ families.
Charlotte McIlmurray, aunt of 10-year-old Jack Johnson who reportedly tried to save others, used a social media post to thank members of the community for their support.
Mrs McIlmurray, described the tragedy as a “nightmare”, adding “that two families can’t wake from the pain is unimaginable”.
“He (Jack) was my nephew, so I know the pain is a million times worse for their moms, dads, sisters/brothers,” she added.
Yesterday, tearful police officers were applauded by the public as they laid flowers near to where they died.
Hero colleagues had waded into the freezing water in an attempt to save the youngsters. One, with just his uniform and no specialist gear, tried to punch through the ice.
The officer, who had not been named, was later treated for mild hypothermia.
