Body is found in search for man who got into difficulty after going swimming on the Thames

Police have found a body in their search for a missing man who is believed to have got into difficulty after swimming in the Thames on Tuesday. 

Officers from Thames Valley Police were called to an area of water called Lulle Brook, between Odney Lane and Mill Lane, in Cookham, Maidenhead last night.

Yesterday two men near Odney Weir in Berkshire got into difficulty while swimming. 

Fire crews, ambulances, and police all attended the scene on Tuesday.  

A man aged in his thirties was brought to safety from the water and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition. 

Lowland Rescue vehicle at Odney Lane near Odney Weir near Cookham in Berkshire yesterday 

Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue teams were out yesterday after a man went missing

A third man entered the water to assist but left unharmed.

Following extensive searches today, the body of a man aged in his thirties was located at around 4.50pm. Formal identification has not yet taken place. 

The death is being treated as unexplained and not suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner. His next of kin have been informed.

Superintendent Colin Hudson, LPA commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, said: ‘Officers have been working tirelessly with our partners to locate the man who entered the water yesterday (Tuesday), and have now tragically found a body.’ 

He added: ‘I am very sorry to have to bring this sad news, our thoughts are with both men’s families during this very upsetting time.’ 

Emergency services rushed to Odney Weir by the village of Cookham, Berkshire on Tuesday

Emergency services rushed to Odney Weir by the village of Cookham, Berkshire on Tuesday

Earlier it was reported that Syrian refugee Eyad Al Ryabi had dived into the stretch of river when friend Mohammed Al Safadi got into trouble on Tuesday.

While he failed to resurface, Mr Safadi managed to be pulled out of the water by friends but he was unconscious and need CPR before being rushed to hospital. 

Syrian refugee Eyad Al Ryabi had dived into the stretch of river when friend Mohammed Al Safadi got into trouble on Tuesday 

The pair had been part of a group of six friends who had travelled from Uxbridge for an afternoon by the river.

Omar Sawayah, who was among friends and relatives who headed to Cookham once the alarm was raised, said: ‘Mohammed decided to dive into the water but got into difficulty.  

‘Eyad dived into the water to try and save him but nobody saw him resurface and he hasn’t been seen since. Somehow Mohammed drifted unconscious to the bank where some of his other friends pulled him out the water. 

‘There was another group of people,I think locals, who tried to help resuscitate Mohammed before the paramedics came and took him to hospital.

‘Eyad came here from the city of Daraa in Syria about eight months ago. He was a refugee living in Uxbridge.’ 

A friend told how all the men, including Eyad, had travelled to the UK from Syria and many of them had families back home.

Eyad was applying for his family to come to the UK. His wife was due to attend an interview with the embassy in Beirut, the friend said, in just two weeks time. It was feared now, with her husband’s death, she would not be able to come to the UK.

Connor Godfrey, a 27-year-old chef from London, told how he had given Mohammed Al Safadi CPR after he was pulled from the river. 

The young man, who was fishing, had first aid training from his work place and so heroically stepped in as he felt the CPR was not being properly given by people.