Yes, the River Thames is very much alive and, after being declared "biologically dead" in the 1950s, it now hosts a thriving ecosystem. It supports over 125 species of fish, including sharks, eels, and seahorses, alongside marine mammals like harbour seals and porpoises, with conservation efforts restoring its health.
There are lots of surprising animals in the Thames.
Although considered biologically dead in the 1950s, through much hard work from conservation organisations, companies and the government, sewerage systems have been rebuilt and developed and the Thames is now teaming with life.
How many bodies have been found in the River Thames?
There isn't a fixed number of bodies in the Thames, but around 30 bodies are recovered annually, with figures ranging from the low 20s to over 30 in recent years, primarily due to suicides or accidents, though some are from unexplained deaths. The Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit (MPU) handles recoveries, but other agencies like the RNLI also assist.
The range of animals living in and around the Thames continues to grow in its diversity and appeal, albeit often hidden. These mysterious waters are the ideal habitat for many fascinating creatures, from slippery European eels to the rarely sighted short-snouted seahorse and even Tope and Starry Smooth-hound sharks.
Never swim across the river. Don't swim more than 10 metres from the water's edge and as far inshore as possible. Try to remain in water shallow enough to stand up in so you are able to stand up and return to a place of safety should you get into difficulty.
The depth of the Thames River varies along its course. In central London, near London Bridge, it's pretty shallow—just about 1.5 meters deep. But head to the Thames Estuary, and you're talking up to 66 feet deep, letting big ships sail through! And at its mouth, it stretches 11 miles wide!
What would happen if you swam in the River Thames?
Know the risks
In addition to strong currents, the cold-water temperature can easily shock, limit ability to breathe and can make you tired very quickly. Before getting in, check to make sure you are able to get out again.
The Thames estuary is known to be home to at least five different species of shark, including the Critically Endangered tope shark (or 'soupfin' shark) and starry smoothhound sharks.
The River Thames whale, affectionately nicknamed Willy by Londoners, was a juvenile female northern bottlenose whale which was discovered swimming in the River Thames in central London on Friday 20 January 2006. According to the BBC, she was five metres (16–18 ft) long and weighed about twelve tonnes (24,400 lb).
No, there are no bodies or skeletons left inside the Titanic wreck; the deep ocean environment, cold, pressure, and microorganisms quickly dissolved organic matter, leaving behind only objects like shoes and clothing where people once were. While recovery ships found many bodies shortly after the sinking, the remains on the seafloor have long since disintegrated, though explorers find shoes as strong indicators of where victims lay.
Look out for each other near the Thames this festive season - #BeAMate 🔹The river can send you into cold water shock if you fall in, leaving you unable to save yourself. 🔹If you see someone in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Do not enter the water.
The River Thames, winding through the English capital of London, is the source of a substantial archaeological assemblage that includes hundreds of human bones, but the lack of a robust chronology for these finds limits interpretation. Here, 30 new radiocarbon dates are reported for the human remains.
By 2100, parts of London and the east coast of England could be under water. According to new maps, dozens of British towns and cities could vanish beneath the water within the next 80 years.
The PLA has statutory responsibility for the regulation and control of the tidal River and, as mentioned above, owns much of the River bed and foreshore to the high water mark.
Body found in River Thames identified as missing schoolgirl Kaliyah Coa. The family of an 11-year-old girl have said she “went to a birthday party and never returned home” after her body was confirmed to have been found in the River Thames.
There are five currently recognized subspecies of blue whales. The number of blue whales today is only a small fraction of what it was before modern commercial whaling significantly reduced their numbers during the early 1900s, but populations are increasing globally.
The Thames provides habitats for numerous bird and fish species, but it occasionally receives some more unusual visitors. In 1899 a 30-ton whale was run ashore in North Woolwich (visible from the Air Line).
Crocodiles definitely aren't native to London's waters, but this is the strange beast that city workers spotted in the Thames yesterday afternoon. They panicked after thinking there was a crocodile resting on a floating pontoon, only yards from where children were paddling.
At about 11:40 BST, Kent Police and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) recovered a body from the river, since confirmed to be that of the missing girl. On Friday, HM Coastguard said it had responded to a report of two children in difficulty in the water. Their ages have not been revealed.
