Published: Thursday, 24th July, 2008 12:00
Divers search for missing man
By Inderdeep Bains
Comments (0)
Print Article
The stretch of the River Thames where the man went missing
A MAJOR search was launched in Windsor on Wednesday night after a man was reported to have fallen off a boat as staff from a Slough school enjoyed a party.
The incident happened at around 9.50pm at Arbour Vale School’s private boat party held for staff which was in the River Thames near the White Pontoon at Windsor Racecourse.
A police helicopter and local officers were dispatched to the area to search the river and its banks looking for the 43-year-old Slough man Peter Jones, who had recently started work at the Farnham Road special needs school as a facilities manager.
Fire engines and crews from Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Bracknell and Windsor joined the search as well as a Water Rescue Unit from Reading.
The search was stopped just before midnight and resumed by the Specialist Search and Rescue Team at first light yesterday (Thursday) morning. Trained divers were assisted by rescue boats sent by the Environment Agency.
The school’s director of autism, Chris Kish, attended the boat party held to bid farewell to members of staff who were leaving. He said: “You don’t go to a school’s end of year leaving party and expect an incident like this to happen.
“But they do happen and this time it has happened to us. I am still hoping for the best.
“The school’s staff and the staff on the boat were fantastic in co-ordinating the rescue effort.”
A resident of Eton Wick said: “There was a party going on on a private boat and it sounded like they were having a good time. A bit later on the police helicopter came out and it had a search light on the river. I immediately knew it was something to do with the boat.”
The search was still underway as the Observer went to press yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. A police spokeswoman for the police said: “The man’s family have been informed and are being regularly updated.”
A spokesman for French Brothers, said: “None of our boats or passengers were involved in the incident.
“All of our skippers cooperated fully with emergency services that were at the scene and complied with the instructions given by the emergency services.”
Further Details
