Police believe they have found the body of a schoolboy who fell into the Thames from Tower Bridge in London last week.
The 13-year-old, a pupil at Ark Globe academy in Elephant and Castle, south London, was reportedly travelling to school with a friend by bus on the morning of 20 April when he went missing.
Witnesses said a member of the public entered the Thames in an attempt to save the teenager but was only able to retrieve his jacket and schoolbag.
Although formal identification has not yet taken place, City of London police said they believed they had found the boy’s body.
The school’s executive principal, Matt Jones, told parents in a letter after the disappearance that the boy, who was in full school uniform, exited the bus near the bridge before his usual stop closest to the school, and then fell into the Thames.
In a statement on Thursday, Jones said: “We are very saddened to hear that a body has been found and that the police believe it is the missing student of ours. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. As a school community, we are pulling together, ensuring all our students are supported at this difficult time.”
City of London police said: “At around midday on Wednesday April 28, a body was recovered from the River Thames by marine units, which we believe to be that of a 13-year-old who has been missing since Tuesday 20 April. His family have been informed but at this time formal identification has not yet taken place.”
