Emergency services have been assembling specialist rescue teams this morning after reports of somebody in the River Avon.
Update 12pm – Avon and Somerset Police:
“A search for a man missing in the river Avon in Bath has concluded. At around midday the underwater search team found a body in the river Avon near Homebase. We are continuing our enquiries to identify him so we can inform his family.”
The alarm was raised at 4.10am this morning after a man was seen in the river and was shouting for help.
Police, fire and ambulance services rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, police officers were able to communicate with the man but were unable to get him out before he went under the water again.
An RAF Search and Rescue Sea King helicopter was requested and flew to the scene from its Chivenor base in North Devon, arriving in Bath at 6am.
The helicopter joined search teams along the river, focussing mainly on the area around the Riverside development.
The Sea King woke large parts of Bath as it flew to the scene, though after two hours of searching it could not locate the man again.
The helicopter is believed to have used its thermal imaging camera to try and locate the man after he went under the water. It was requested due to the ability of the crew to winch people from water.
Fire crews assembled in the Homebase car park with the river rescue team, awaiting news from the helicopters.
Crews from Brislington and Keynsham were stood down at 6.30am. The Bath rescue team remains on scene.
Volunteers from Avon and Somerset’s Search and Rescue team have also joined the search, with police divers now in the water looking for the man.
Anyone who thinks they might have information which could help the search should contact police on 101.
The search of the river in #Bath is continuing. We are being assisted by the @AandS_SAR Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue team.
— Avon&Somerset Police (@ASPolice) January 23, 2014
