The body of a man recovered from the River Thames near Limehouse is believed to be that of Xavier Thomas, who has been missing since the London Bridge terror attack.

The Met Police confirmed that the 45-year-old French national’s family have been informed.

He had not been seen since Saturday night’s attack and it was thought he may have fallen from London Bridge into the Thames.

A body was recovered from the river by specialist officers from the Marine Police Unit at around 7.45pm yesterday.

Formal identification has not yet taken place.

Mr Thomas was crossing the bridge with his girlfriend Christine Delcros – who is in hospital with serious injuries – on Saturday night when he was possibly run down at the start of the murderous trio’s rampage, according to the police.

The couple had been visiting the capital for the weekend.

In a statement, the force said: “Witness accounts suggest that it is possible that Xavier was struck by the van that resulted in him being thrown into the River Thames.”

Family and friends of the couple also launched an online appeal for information about Mr Thomas’s whereabouts.