Body found in hunt for three swimmers missing in River Thames, police say

Officers searching for 23-year-old man in Shadwell Basin recover body

Emergency services searched for one swimmer at Shadwell Basin (Emma Reilly)

A body has been found in the search for three people missing in different parts of the River Thames, police have said.

Officers searching for a man reported missing at Shadwell Basin, in east London, at 6.05pm on Tuesday have recovered the body of a 23-year-old male.

As searches were launched on Tuesday, the force said a man believed to be aged 23 “was swimming with friends and did not resurface”.

A spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “A body, believed to be the same man, was recovered at around 9.45am on Wednesday. His next of kin have been informed.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Police said a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Searches continue for two other males still missing in the Thames.

A second person swimming near Waterloo Bridge was also reported missing at 8.30pm, while a third man disappeared on Tuesday night near Kingston High Street.

A police spokesperson said: “We have responded ... to three separate incidents of people seen to enter water and disappear from sight. Officers and the marine policing unit attended along with other emergency service personnel and are searching the area.”

Parts of the UK, including the capital, are in the midst of a heatwave, with temperatures across the UK exceeding 30C on Tuesday.

Scotland Yard’s investigation was opened just hours after a swimmer’s body was found in Gloucestershire.

A man’s body was recovered at Cotswold Water Park at around 1.40pm on Tuesday after a swimmer was reported missing.

Police and ambulance crews were at the site, with a National Police Air Service helicopter scrambled to help search for the swimmer.

“Officers conducted searches along with the National Police Air Service (NPAS), Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and fire service and the body of a man was pulled from the water shortly before 8.50pm,” a Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said.

“He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and the coroner and the man’s next of kin have been informed.”

Additional reporting by agencies