Bodies are frequently found in the River Thames due to a combination of high suicide rates, accidental drownings, strong tidal currents that move bodies miles from the entry point, and historical, ritualistic, or criminal disposals over thousands of years. The river's deep, dark, and murky nature often delays discovery, with many bodies sinking before surfacing later.
Researchers have studied skeletons from the Thames since the 19th century. One early theory about these discoveries was that the corpses came from a battle between Celts and Romans, while in the late 20th century, experts suggested most of the bodies came from erosion of riverbank burials and drowning victims.
How many bodies are found in the Thames each year?
On average, about 30 bodies are retrieved from the river's dark waters in London each year. The job falls to the marine policing unit (MPU), responsible for policing 47 miles of the river between Dartford and Hampton Court.
The bones are probably the remains of butchered animals, cast into the river long ago. The clay pipes, readily found along the Thames in central London, were an omnipresent feature of London life before the invention of paper cigarettes.
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.
There are handful of sites used for swimming on the Thames in west London like beyond Teddington lock where it is non-tidal. But it isn't permitted to swim in the tidal Thames where there are strong currents and it is a busy shipping lane. Any swimming in the Thames east of Putney Bridge is completely prohibited.
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel crosses beneath the River Thames in East London, linking Greenwich on the south bank with Millwall on the north. Approximately 4,000 people use the tunnel each day. It opened in 1902.
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.
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.
Despite all the pollution and sewage issues that still threaten the Thames today, the river is now far from the dead zone it was almost 70 years ago, with many aquatic species calling it home.
Enough waste and pollution had accumulated in the Thames to make it the most contaminated and unhygienic river in the world. Though the situation with the Thames was noticeable before the onset of England's Industrial Age, it was the summer of 1858 that finally brought it to the attention of lawmakers.
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.
Only use taxis or licensed minicabs. Avoid walking alone at night. Keep to well-lit main roads. Take notice of your surroundings and beware of wearing headphones.
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.
While "prettiest" is subjective, Henley-on-Thames is widely considered a top contender for the most picturesque town on the Thames, known for its classic English charm, historic buildings, vibrant Regatta, and beautiful setting near the Chilterns. Other contenders for beauty include Marlow for its idyllic riverside setting, Windsor for its iconic castle, and charming spots like Richmond for riverside pubs and greenery.
On average, about 30 bodies are retrieved from the river's dark waters in London each year. The job falls to the marine policing unit (MPU), responsible for policing 47 miles of the river between Dartford and Hampton Court. Last year, the MPU retrieved 45 bodies.
The River Tyburn flows down from the Hampstead hills to the River Thames near Pimlico. It passes under some of London's wealthiest areas: Marylebone, Westminster, even Buckingham Palace. The word Tyburn comes from 'teoburne', meaning 'boundary stream' or 'two streams' in early medieval English.
