Body of man found in Thames 18 hours after Canary Wharf accident

The body of a man has been found in the Thames 18 hours after a tragic accident when a couple were spotted in the water off Canary Wharf Pier.

It was recovered by a police launch last night at Nelson Dock in Rotherhithe, opposite Canary Wharf. Police are now waiting for formal identification.

Rescuers managed to reach a woman in time after she had fallen in the river at the pier at 12.30am yesterday.

A massive rescue operatioon got under way by police, coastguards, fire brigade, the Tower lifeboat and the Port of London Authority after passers-by raised the alarm when they spotted the couple in the water. A police helicopter was also brought into the rescue.

A patrol launch from the Met Police marine unit at Wapping managed to reach the 23-year-old woman in time and pull her from the water.

A waiting ambulance took her to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel where she was later recovering.

But there was no sign of the 30-year-old man until the body was recovered at 7pm last night.