A man found in the River Thames at Greenwich during last night’s pitch black conditions was rescued thanks to his body heat.

Crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) were alerted to the man after his body heat was detected by a thermal imaging camera from a police helicopter.

Following reports of a man in the river, the charity’s lifeboat was joined by the Met’s boat and helicopter crews using spotlights and thermal imaging from the air.

Will Ellwood, RNLI Tower lifeboat helmsman, said: “It was pitch black as we made the search. The police helicopter crew then radioed that they had identified a heat source on the inside of the old power station jetty.

“The police boat was nearest but couldn't get in as the water was too shallow so they called us over to assist and we proceeded up the inside of the jetty in 1m of water.

“We spotted the casualty drifting towards us and recovered him onto the lifeboat. We wrapped him in blankets and took him to Greenwich Pier where the police and paramedics from London Ambulance Service were waiting. He was walked off the pier into the ambulance.”