A woman suffering from hypothermia has been taken to hospital after being rescued by a boat from the River Thames this afternoon.

It is unclear whether she fell in the water or was swimming.

Police and two lifeboats rushed to the scene, near Kingston Bridge, after reports of a woman swimming in the river at 2.40pm.

When the Teddington RNLI lifeboat crews arrived the 57-year-old was hypothermic and was wrapped in a blanket before being taken to Kingston Hospital by ambulance.

An RNLI spokesman said a pleasure boat had gone past the woman and got hold of her but was unable to get her in the boat.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said they had been called earlier than the other emergency services, at 2.01pm, to reports of a woman who appeared unwell on the riverside.

The spokesman said they sent a cycle responder, an ambulance crew, a duty officer and two hazard area specialist teams, who struggled to find the woman on arrival.

The spokesman said it was unclear what had happened.

Fisherman Francis Logue said he saw the two lifeboats speed down the river. He said: “Someone said she was in a bikini. She had passed my mate fishing further up there. So who knows if she was swimming or what. It’s always a problem in the summer.

“I didn’t see the actual rescue but I saw them leave so I hope she is ok.”

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