Australian tourist dives into Thames to save woman

London Coastguard were contacted at just after 2pm to a report that a woman in her mid-20s had been seen jumping into the Thames from the Millennium Bridge.

A 60 year old male passenger on a nearby pleasure vessel 'Vita' who had recently arrived in country from Victoria in Australia immediately jumped into the water to try and assist the distressed woman.

Both people in the water were spotted from Southwark Bridge and the Tower RNLI lifeboat was immediately launched. They were both taken to Tower Pier where an ambulance was waiting.

"The Australian tourist didn't think twice about trying to assist the female, and our thanks are due to him for his immediate action," said Archie Turnbull, watch manager at London Coastguard. "In fact, his wife who was with him on the pleasure vessel hadn't realised he'd gone overboard for some time!

"He also had a pocket full of holiday money which is currently being dried out in a tumble drier with the rest of his clothes! He was checked over at the shoreline and is OK whilst the female has been taken to hospital by ambulance."