A kayaker at the centre of a major emergency search when his boat capsized in a fast flowing river jumped in the water to save his young son, it has been claimed.
Emergency services launched a large scale search of the River Wey in Guildford at 1.10pm on Monday after reports a boat had overturned in strong currents.
Witnesses said how the man was paddling with his son when they got into difficulty.
Tonight, fears are growing for the man's safety after claims he was "washed away" when he entered the water to save the boy, believed to be aged about 11 or 12, who managed to reach a bank.
Christopher Jackson wrote on a community Facebook page: "(I) heard (a) dad telling son how to paddle in passing...we could see the canoe was being dragged around like a bottle very fast."
While Niamh Saul wrote: "No he hasn't been found...but the small boy was saved. God bless the father saving his son and he got washed away. Heartbreaking, thinking of his family and friends."
Siobhan Heaney posted: "Just spoke to the men searching. I found (out the) lad got into trouble. His dad went in after him. Got the (boy) out, but (the) man went under."
A police helicopter and search-and-rescue crews in red inflatable boats have been combing the river looking for the man, who has not been named.
Chief Inspector Dave Mason, of Surrey Police, said: "We have a large number of officers out looking for this man alongside a number of fire crews.
"The man was spotted in the water by several members of the public and was clearly in difficulty due to the extremely strong current.
Read More
"We are doing everything we can to try and find him. We are urging members of the public that if they do see him, not to try and go in after him but to call 999 straight away."
