Man dies hours after being pulled out of River Lea

Emergency services at the River Lea. Photograph: @ShomrimOfficial

A man pulled out of the River Lea by emergency services yesterday morning has died in hospital.

A passer-by called emergency services at around 8:45 after spotting a bike and clothes on the side of the towpath near Lea Bridge Road.

After a 90 minute search by emergency services divers brought the man out of the river but he was pronounced dead just after noon yesterday.

The identity of the man remains unknown and detectives in Waltham Forest are trying to identify the man and inform his next of kin.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.

The London Fire Brigade said: “A man has sadly died in hospital after he was found in the River Lea.

“Firefighters using specialist water rescue equipment brought the man out of the water. He was taken to hospital scene by London Ambulance Service crews where he later died.”