Witnesses have described the distressing moment a mother and her young son were pulled lifeless from the River Brent in west London on Saturday afternoon. The 34-year-old woman and her seven-year-old boy died after being dragged under by strong currents near Elthorne Park, Ealing.
Witness Accounts
A canal boat owner moored near the scene told reporters that a Muslim woman in a headscarf raised the alarm. 'She was obviously distraught,' he said. 'It was a very sunny day, there were people with picnics and kids playing. I saw one body brought out – it was absolutely terrible.' The man expressed regret that he had not been aware sooner, as his boat is equipped with safety and rescue gear. 'A lot of their family and friends came down. The emergency services were amazing,' he added.
Paramedics worked tirelessly to resuscitate the pair, but they succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Despite the efforts of first responders and other park users, the murky water and strong currents from a nearby weir made rescue difficult.
Community in Mourning
Local dog walker Sandy Hughes said the entire community was 'reeling' from the tragedy. 'We are all in mourning for this family. It was a lovely day with kids playing and people having picnics. There were so many people around. The water doesn’t look that dangerous but there is debris and it’s very brown so you can’t see what’s beneath,' she said.
The incident occurred on one of the hottest days of the year, with families enjoying picnics and children playing on rope swings in the woods beside the river. Emergency services were scrambled just before 4:30 pm, and police pulled the mother and son from the water.
Police Statement
Detective Superintendent Pete Thackray from the Metropolitan Police’s West Area Command Unit expressed condolences. 'This is a tragic incident in which a woman and her young child have lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their loved ones. We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the first responders and members of the public who did their very best in an incredibly challenging situation,' he said.
The canal boat owner warned of the dangers at that spot: 'Where it happened is dangerous. There is flowing water and a current.' Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims.
