The search for a man who went missing in the River Thames in Cookham is ongoing as another remains in a serious condition in hospital, police have said.
Officers were called to reports that two men who had been swimming got into difficulty in a stretch of water called Lulle Brook, between Odney Lane and Mill Lane in Maidenhead, at around 7pm on Tuesday.
One man in his thirties was brought to safety by a member of the public and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition on Wednesday.
The other man, also in his thirties, is still missing, police said.
Searches began yesterday evening and are continuing today.
A third man entered the water to assist but was unharmed.
Witnesses said the missing man was a Syrian who was with a group of five other family members who travelled from Uxbridge to enjoy the sunshine on one of the hottest days of the year.
A bystander who had been at the riverbank said that they had earlier seen the three men jumping off the weir and doing backflips into the water.
They told Mail Online: “That was about 4.30pm. Later, after we had left the riverside, we heard loads of police sirens and came rushing back.”
Thames Valley Police officers, fire crews from the Royal Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services, paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service, and members of Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue, all attended the scene.
LPA Commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, Superintendent Colin Hudson, said: “We are carrying out searches today to locate the missing man which includes searches on the banks of the river and in the water using specialist resources.
“One man remains in hospital in a serious condition.
“Our thoughts are with both the men’s families and our officers are supporting them at this very difficult time.”
