The "devastated" parents of a young woman from Welling, who was killed when a speedboat ride along the Thames ended in tragedy, have paid tribute to their "beautiful" daughter.
Charlotte Brown, known as Charli, 24, died in hospital after she and her 29-year-old date were thrown into the river near Plantation Wharf, Wandsworth Bridge, on Tuesday night (December 8).
Her sister Katie, 27, said Ms Brown was a "fun-loving" girl who would have been thrilled about her first trip in a speedboat, which followed dinner at The Shard.
Ms Brown met her date online around a month ago and was "excited" to finally see him in person, the business development consultant's relatives added.
At around 11.45pm on Tuesday, Met Police officers responded to reports of shouting coming from the river - along with the Marine Support Unit, the National Police Air Service, the Coastguard, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service (LAS).
Her male friend has since been discharged from hospital, and has been helping the Met with their investigation.
Speaking for the first time, her family said they had been touched by the "outpouring of love for Charli" and paid tribute to "her cheeky smile, loving heart and vibrant personality".
Her sister Katie, 27, said: "Charli had never been on a speedboat before in her life, she was obviously excited to be on one.
"She was the type of girl who lived life to the full and she was probably excited to tell us about this adventure."
The English literature graduate loved flying and was a "confident swimmer", relatives said.
However, she may not have been wearing a life jacket when she fell overboard.
Her sister said: "Even the best swimmer in the Thames at this time of year, with the current conditions and the cold, I don't see many people standing a chance without a life jacket.
"We don't know exactly what happened. If she was wearing a life jacket there is a chance she could still be here today."
Ms Brown's handbag was lost in the Thames, and it took police nine hours to inform her family of her death on Wednesday morning.
The pair were lifted from the water near Wandsworth Bridge
Her mum, Roz Wickens, 50, a former emergency medical technician with London Ambulance Service, was at home in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, when police arrived to break the "inexplicable" news to her.
She said: "I am so totally devastated I can't put it into words, but when people see what a beautiful woman she is, they will know how everyone loved her, she touched so many hearts.
"This is the worst thing I have ever had to do in my life, it is so terrible."
Ms Brown's civil servant dad Graham, 52, was said to be "inconsolable".
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Ms Brown was due to become an aunt for the second time in three weeks and was said to be "very excited" that her eldest sister Vicky, 28, was expecting.
The family said there were "no words to describe our grief" and they had been left "in bits" after travelling to St George’s Hospital together to identify her body.
Heartbroken friends have returned to Britain from the States on hearing the news, her mum added.
The family faces an agonising wait as police carry out their investigation into the death, which they have deemed non-suspicious.
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