Search resumes for man missing from capsized boat

Fire and rescue officers on a boat on Thames at Sunbury as part of rescue operation
The search for the missing man resumed on Saturday morning [BBC]

The search has resumed for a second day for a man after a rowing boat capsized on the River Thames in Surrey.

Crews from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, the coastguard and the police attended the scene at Sunbury Lock, near Wheatleys Eyot, at about 08:50 BST on Friday.

Surrey Police said that of the six adults who had entered the water, "five of those people have since been accounted for".

But the force confirmed on Friday evening that it believed a man in his 60s "may still be in the river".

A spokesperson for Surrey Search & Rescue said on Saturday morning that is was "supporting police in the search for a missing person in the Sunbury area".

Weybridge Rowing Club confirmed that it was one of their boats which "got into difficulty following an on-water incident".

In a statement it said: ​"The club is working closely with the emergency services, police, Environment Agency and other agencies to aid the search for the missing person and to investigate the events that took place yesterday."

Three of the people rescued were taken to hospital for further checks, an ambulance service spokesperson said.

Rescue teams have appealed for members of the public to avoid the area while the search continues.

Rescue teams gather by their vehicles in Sunbury
Rescue teams have urged the public to avoid the area [BBC]

A woman walking her dog near the river on Friday evening said she had seen a red rescue boat on the water at about 10:00 BST and there was a helicopter nearby at the same time.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "We could see they were searching in the water, they had walkie talkies, we could tell they were looking for something."

Environment Agency had issued a "red caution: strong stream" warning for the stretch of the Thames between Shepperton and Molesey locks were on Friday morning.

Efforts to establish how the boat capsized are ongoing.

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