A man has died after falling from a bridge into the Thames while he was being arrested, police said.
A patrol car was flagged to stop where a man and woman engaged in a “verbal melee” on Kingston Bridge in south-west London at around 10.30pm on Friday.
After being accused of theft, officers began arresting the man – but he went into the water.
Police said the man is believed to be in his 20s, but his name has not been made public and was not handcuffed at the time.
Fire crews, the RNLI, the Metropolitan Police’s marine unit and a helicopter were called to help rescue the man and his body was pulled from the water about two hours later.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him, but he was presumed dead. His family has been informed.
A tether remains on the Kingston bridge, and inquiries are continuing.
The case has been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, the police’s watchdog.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “My thoughts and those of the Metropolitan Police Department are with the friends and family of the man who lost his life following this incident.
“I totally appreciate the public will be very interested. We of course share that concern.”
