Pensioner dies after falling into River Thames (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Pensioner dies after falling into River Thames near Putney Bridge

4:02pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

A pensioner has died after falling into the River Thames this morning.

Police were called to Putney Bridge just after 8.30am to reports of a stricken man in his 70s in the river.

Lifeboat crews managed to fish him out of the water by about 8.50 am and he was taken to nearby Putney Pier.

Paramedics found the man had gone into cardiac arrest and battled to rescucitate him.

He was taken by ambulance to Charing Cross hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: "Extensive efforts were made to save him both at the scene and at the hospital."

Formal identification has yet to be made and next of kin have not yet been informed.

Police enquiries continue but the death is being treated as non-suspicious.