Thames Valley Police in Wokingham Local Policing Area (LPA), along with the assistance of members of the Wargrave public, helped a vulnerable woman who was swimming in the river on Saturday 10 July.
At 4.35pm, police were contacted by a member of the public reporting that a woman was swimming naked in the river close to Marsh Lock in Wargrave, and there was concern for her safety.
Henley Festival was taking place, so there were a substantial number of large boats around and the situation was potentially dangerous. Initial reports from Wargrave members of the public made police believe that the female had been reported missing and was probably vulnerable.
PC Andrew Kelly, of Loddon Valley Police, who attended the Wargrave incident, said: “We had to be resourceful to deal with this incident as it happened at a busy time. Our colleagues in Henley and from other agencies were dealing with a light aircraft crash, which also meant the helicopter was unavailable to us.
“Units from Loddon Valley attended the Berkshire side of the river, which is fairly difficult to access, and I managed to enlist the services of a local rowing instructor, Will Morgan from Caversham, and his rescue launch and we began a search of the river to the north of Marsh Lock.
“PC Benjamin Roper was able to get further assistance from a couple just south of the lock in Wargrave Road and was aided by a man and his boat which meant we were able to search from the south.
“PC Roper and PC Christopher Thompson eventually located the girl walking along the riverbank at 5.15pm. She was confused and sunburnt, and it was thought she had been in the water for several hours. She was taken to Loddon Valley police station.
“Thanks to officers and members of the public she was safe. It turned out that she was a missing person from Bath who suffers from mental health problems. We really are grateful to the members of the public who helped us – without their valuable assistance I am not sure the situation would have had the same conclusion.”
Insp PJ Binns, of Loddon Valley police station, said: “Due to the prompt and resourceful actions of the officers who attended, and the willingness of the public to assist us, we were able to bring a vulnerable missing person to safety.”
Thames Valley Police ~ Wargrave