A man has died after being pulled out of the River Lea following a frantic search by emergency services.

The man, whose age and identity is presently unknown, was taken to hospital and pronounced dead just before noon today.

Police in Waltham Forest are attempting to identify the man and inform his next of kin.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.

Earlier today, the search and rescue mission involving police helicopters and boats was seen by the Lee Valley Ice Centre in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton.

A blue tent was put up as the man received treatment on the river bank before being taken away by ambulance.

A Met spokesman said: "We were called at 8.40am, to reports of a person entering the River Lea.

"Officers are in attendance, as are the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade.

"London's Air Ambulance, the Met Marine Support Unit and Air Support Unit are also in attendance."

Cordons were in place on Lea Bridge Road.

A passer-by was walking in the marshes when they saw emergency services arrive.

He told The Guardian: “Someone went in to the river and didn’t come back up, it was a cyclist who reported it.

“There are fire brigade, ambulance, police from all over all frantically looking.

 

Emergency services continue to search for a possible person in the River Lea. Towpath closed off as a crime scene pic.twitter.com/qxDpshkqYF

— Shomrim N.E. London (@ShomrimOfficial) October 20, 2015

 

More to follow.