A man who managed to climb out of the Thames but nearly froze to death was rescued by an RNLI lifeboat crew.
The man was spotted by a member of the public in the river near Putney Bridge on Saturday (November 14) so the Chiswick RNLI lifeboat crew launched at 7.42am and began to search the area alongside the Met Police boat.
As they made a sweep of the south bank of the Thames the crew spotted a man lying motionless on a pontoon at Hurlingham Yacht Club in Deodar Road, Putney near Fulham railway bridge.
Gary Tiller, RNLI lifeboat helmsman, said: “We were searching the water around Fulham railway bridge when we spotted him lying on a pontoon next to the river bank. He was partially hidden from view so it was a good spot.
“He was lying on his back, soaking wet and freezing cold. He’d obviously managed to climb out of the river and onto the pontoon, but when we reached him the cold had taken effect and he could barely move a muscle.”
The man was in danger of freezing to death as he was hypothermic and beyond the shivering stage.
Mr Tiller added: “If we hadn’t found him when we did, this would have turned into a life and death situation very quickly. Thankfully we found him in time.’
The RNLI crew gave first aid before paramedics from London Ambulance Service arrived to take care of him.
If you spot anyone in trouble in the Thames, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
