The body of a drowned teenager has been pulled out of the River Lea 'after being chased by police', it has emerged.

The victim, believed to be a 17-year-old, was pulled out of the canal near to Lea Bridge Road at around 5.20pm today (29 July) after a frantic search by emergency services.

Eyewitnesses described the victim being chased by police into the river before "disappearing" under the water.

Earlier in the day police were called to the teen's home in Clapton, where his family were concerned for his welfare.

It is understood by the time officers arrived the boy had smashed the window of his house and escaped.

Hackney police initiated a search of the surrounding area and at just before 4pm somebody "matching the description of the boy" was spotted on Hackney Marshes.

On seeing police he ran off with officers in pursuit and he entered the canal.

Speaking from the scene, Gavin Redknapp said: "The kid was being chased across the park and ran straight into the river and disappeared. It looks like he got caught up in all that growth in the river."

 

A police spokesman said: "Officers tried to stop the male in order to assist him, but, prior to police officers reaching him, the male entered the canal.

"A police officer entered the canal in an attempt to rescue him, but the male went under the water."

A search of the River Lea and surrounding area was conducted by police officers with the assistance of dog units, the police helicopter, the Marine Policing Unit and London Fire Brigade.

Police await a post-mortem examination and formal identification of the body.

The spokesman confirmed that the Directorate of Professional Standards which aims to investigate public complaints and to uphold professional standards across the Met have been informed of the incident.

A spokeswoman from the London Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 5.06pm to Lea Valley Bridge Road to reports of a person in the water.

"We sent London's Air Ambulance and as well as two ambulance crews and the hazardous area response team.

"But sadly the male was pronounced dead at the scene by the doctor from the Air Ambulance."