LONDON – December 24, 2025 – A heavy police presence remains at the heart of the capital this Christmas Eve after a body was recovered from the River Thames in the shadow of the Palace of Westminster.
The Metropolitan Police were called shortly after 6:30 AM on Wednesday by a member of the public who spotted what appeared to be a person in the water near Westminster Bridge. Officers from the Marine Policing Unit were quickly dispatched and recovered the body from the river roughly thirty minutes later.
Investigation Underway
The area surrounding the Westminster Pier was temporarily cordoned off as emergency services worked at the scene. While the cordon has since been lifted to allow for holiday foot traffic, the investigation into how the individual ended up in the water is just beginning.
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Identification: No formal identification has been made. Officers are currently cross-referencing the description with active missing persons files from across Greater London.
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Status: A spokesperson for the Met described the death as “unexpected” and stated that it is currently being treated as unexplained.
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Coroner Involvement: A file is being prepared for the coroner, and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place in the coming days to determine the exact cause of death.
A Grim Start to the Holiday
The discovery cast a somber mood over one of London’s most iconic landmarks on a day usually reserved for festive preparation. Local workers and early-morning tourists watched as a police launch transported the remains to a nearby facility for processing.
“It’s a tragic sight anytime, but seeing the blue lights near Big Ben on Christmas Eve really brings it home,” said one witness who was on their way to work in Whitehall. “Our hearts go out to whoever’s family is about to get the worst possible news.”
The Metropolitan Police have not yet released the gender or approximate age of the deceased, pending the notification of next of kin. They have urged anyone who may have witnessed anything unusual near the river in the early hours of Wednesday morning to come forward.
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