Hero woman ‘jumped into River Thames to try and save missing 13-year-old schoolboy’

A hero woman jumped into the River Thames to try and save a 13-year-old boy after hearing screams when he fell from Tower Bridge on his way to school, according to reports.

The pupil was wearing his full uniform when he got off a bus as he made his way to The Ark Globe Academy in Southwark, London, on Tuesday at around 8am.  

He and a friend had boarded the bus together but the youngster got off near Tower Bridge – ahead of his usual stop in Elephant and Castle – before falling into the river, the school’s principal said in a letter to parents.

Witnesses described hearing screams before one woman jumped into the water to try and save the boy. 

Despite using a life-float to swim into the Thames, she was only able to recover his school jacket and school bag. 

City of London Police confirmed officers have launched an ‘intensive search’ for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found. 

The boy is believed to have celebrated his 13th birthday only last week. 

Police have launched a search for a 13-year-old boy who went missing after falling into the River Thames from Tower Bridge on his way to school (emergency services at the scene)

River police, firefighters, the RNLI (pictured) and a police helicopter were also involved in the search for the youngster

River police, firefighters, the RNLI (pictured) and a police helicopter were also involved in the search for the youngster

Emergency services (pictured on the River Thames) including the river police, firefighters, the RNLI and a police helicopter were all involved in the search

Emergency services (pictured on the River Thames) including the river police, firefighters, the RNLI and a police helicopter were all involved in the search 

A map shows the distance between his school, Ark Globe Academy, and where he is feared to have fallen into the river

A map shows the distance between his school, Ark Globe Academy, and where he is feared to have fallen into the river

In the letter, seen by MailOnline, Principal Matt Jones said: ‘It is with worry that I share news about [pupil’s name], a Year 8 student at Ark Globe Academy.

‘On the morning of Tuesday 20 April, [he] did not make his way into school despite travelling on a bus with a friend in full school uniform.

‘He got off the bus near Tower Bridge before his usual bus stop nearest to Ark Globe Academy and fell into the River Thames.

‘At this moment in time, police are treating this case as a “missing persons’ incident”.

‘This is obviously distressing news for [the pupil’s] family, friends and the wider Ark Globe community.

The teenager had been wearing his full uniform as he made his way to The Ark Globe Academy in Southwark, London, on Tuesday at around 8am when he fell from the bridge (emergency services at the scene)

The teenager had been wearing his full uniform as he made his way to The Ark Globe Academy in Southwark, London, on Tuesday at around 8am when he fell from the bridge (emergency services at the scene) 

City of London Police (pictured at the scene) confirmed officers have launched an 'intensive search' for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found

City of London Police (pictured at the scene) confirmed officers have launched an ‘intensive search’ for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found

The 13-year-old boy, who is believed to have celebrated his birthday only last week, is missing after falling into the River Thames from Tower Bridge on his way to school

The 13-year-old boy, who is believed to have celebrated his birthday only last week, is missing after falling into the River Thames from Tower Bridge on his way to school

The search for the teenage boy has so far involved helicopter and marine searches (emergency services at the scene)

The search for the teenage boy has so far involved helicopter and marine searches (emergency services at the scene)

‘Our hopes and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time.’

The principal acknowledged that the past year has been ‘very difficult’ for everyone and urged parents to contact the school or NSPCC, the UK’s top children’s charity, if they needed help. 

One witness who was working on a building site on the South Bank told The Sun: ‘We all heard him screaming for help, and then a woman who was just walking past with her boyfriend grabbed a float and jumped into the river.

‘She said “why isn’t anybody helping him” before jumping in herself.

City of London Police https://twitter.com/jenthemilff/status/1385516411351707656 are currently treating it as a "missing persons' incident"

City of London Police (pictured at the scene) are currently treating it as a “missing persons’ incident” 

Witnesses described hearing screams before one woman jumped into the water to try and save the boy (search teams at the scene)

Witnesses described hearing screams before one woman jumped into the water to try and save the boy (search teams at the scene)

Witnesses described hearing screams before one woman jumped into the water to try and save the boy. Despite using a life-float (pictured) to swim into the Thames, she was only able to recover his school jacket and school bag

Witnesses described hearing screams before one woman jumped into the water to try and save the boy. Despite using a life-float (pictured) to swim into the Thames, she was only able to recover his school jacket and school bag

The teenager and a friend had boarded a bus together but the youngster got off near Tower Bridge (emergency services at the scene) before falling into the river, the school's principal said in a letter to parents

The teenager and a friend had boarded a bus together but the youngster got off near Tower Bridge (emergency services at the scene) before falling into the river, the school’s principal said in a letter to parents

‘The woman jumped in seconds after but all she could bring back was his school jacket and his bag.

‘I saw police going through the bag and it had his school books and stationary in it, he was clearly very young.’ 

A spokeswoman for City of London Police told MailOnline: ‘City of London Police is leading an investigation into a missing person, working alongside our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Service.  

Police confirmed officers have launched an 'intensive search' for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found (emergency services at the scene)

Police confirmed officers have launched an ‘intensive search’ for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found (emergency services at the scene)

The 13-year-old boy went missing after falling into the River Thames from Tower Bridge (police at the scene) as he was on his way to school, his headteacher said

The 13-year-old boy went missing after falling into the River Thames from Tower Bridge (police at the scene) as he was on his way to school, his headteacher said 

The pupil was wearing his full uniform when he got off a bus as he made his way to The Ark Globe Academy in Southwark, London, on Tuesday at around 8am (search teams on the River Thames)

The pupil was wearing his full uniform when he got off a bus as he made his way to The Ark Globe Academy in Southwark, London, on Tuesday at around 8am (search teams on the River Thames)

Officers have launched an 'intensive search' for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found (teams at the scene)

Officers have launched an ‘intensive search’ for the boy involving helicopter and marine searches but he has not yet been found (teams at the scene)

‘We believe this is linked to an incident where a child fell into the Thames from Tower Bridge. 

‘Despite an intensive search by City of London Police, the police helicopter and marine units, this person has not yet been found.

‘We ask anyone who witnessed anything on Tuesday 20 April at 8.09am, to call us on 020 7601 2999, quoting reference 21000215310.’

MailOnline has also contacted The Ark Globe Academy for further comment.