Emergency services have suspended their search for a young man believed to have entered the River Avon near Tewkesbury almost a week ago. The incident occurred late on Friday, December 19, when Gloucestershire Police were alerted to reports of someone in the water near Mythe Road at around 9pm.
Witnesses immediately notified authorities, prompting a rapid response from emergency teams. However, heavy rainfall had raised the river to hazardous, fast-flowing levels, significantly complicating rescue operations.
Despite extensive weekend searches carried out by multiple agencies, the man—thought to be in his 20s—has not yet been found. Authorities have now paused in-water searches due to the dangerous river conditions but plan to resume as soon as the water levels subside.
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Specialist teams continue to comb the surrounding areas, while police maintain close contact with the missing man’s family, providing ongoing support during this difficult time.
A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson stated on December 24: “Following reports that a person entered the River Avon near Mythe Road on the evening of December 19, emergency services responded quickly. The river’s heightened, fast-flowing state has made the search extremely challenging. While in-river searches are temporarily suspended, efforts will restart as conditions improve. Our specialist teams persist in searching nearby locations, and we continue to support the family with updates and care.”