Mother and son die after being pulled from Ealing park water

A woman and child died after being pulled from the water at Elthorne Park in Ealing, where the River Brent runs alongside a public space that drew crowds on one of London’s warmest days of the year so far.

Police were called just before 4.30pm on Saturday, 25 April 2026, after reports that two people were in difficulty in the water. The pair, believed to be a mother and her son, were recovered but died at the scene. Their ages have not been released, and police are working to identify their next of kin.

The Metropolitan Police said the deaths are not being treated as suspicious, though an investigation is under way. Detective Superintendent Pete Thackray, of the Met’s West Area Command Unit, described the incident as tragic and said the force’s thoughts were with the family. He also thanked first responders and members of the public who tried to help in what he called an incredibly challenging situation.

The fatal incident has thrown a sharp light on the risks around urban park waterways, especially on a warm afternoon when temperatures in Ealing reached about 21C. Elthorne Park is bordered by the River Brent, a feature that offers a scenic edge to the park but also creates a hazard when people enter the water or are pulled in unexpectedly.

Jon Ball, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Ealing Common, posted condolences on social media and said his thoughts were with the family of those involved. The scene in west London was left to police and emergency crews as the afternoon turned from a busy spring day into a fatal rescue operation.

For investigators, the immediate questions now are about how the pair came to be in the water, how quickly help was summoned, and what could be done to reduce the danger at riverside parks where ordinary recreation can turn in an instant. For the family, the focus is far more immediate: the search for names, relatives and answers after a tragedy that unfolded in full view on a crowded, sunny day.