'We watched in horror as body fell from bridge and hit water'

SEA kayakers paddling in the estuary watched in horror as a person plunged 100ft from the Humber Bridge.

A group of paddlers were about 400 metres away when they saw a "large dark shape" hit the water.

Ken Oliver had been intending to lead a small group of adult sea kayakers around Read's Island when the tragedy happened.

He said: "The splash was huge. The person disappeared into the water in front of us.

"It was an awful thing to witness."

Mr Oliver immediately radioed the coastguard, which in turn scrambled Humber Rescue, at around 9.30am on Saturday.

Last night, a body had still not been found, although strong currents mean it can take weeks before people are recovered.

Mr Oliver said the group, left shaken by what they had witnessed, abandoned their planned itinerary and paddled to shore.

He said: "If it was suicide, you can only imagine what must have been going on in the poor soul's head before they jumped.

"I made the conscious decision to return my group to shore, there was a motorised boat just about to launch and we hailed it over to the search area."

Mr Oliver said it was safer to return the shorter distance back to shore than it was to paddle to where the person had entered the water, as he didn't know how some of the team would cope in such a dramatic situation.

"The boat shot across to the area and started a sweeping search," he said. "We carried on giving details to the coastguard over the radio.

"Waiting on the foreshore was the police, coastguard, an ambulance and other vehicles.

"We gave statements to the police and heard the rescue teams stood down a couple of hours later. No body was found.

"We decided to continue with a small journey along the north bank to Brough Haven and back to clear our heads and to be with our thoughts."

Drew Mahood, of the Humber Coastguard, who was on duty at the time, confirmed a member of the public had reported a person falling from the bridge.

He said: "We sent the inshore rescue boat with about a crew of five based at Hessle. The police helicopter assisted in the search.

"Cabin cruisers also helped but we couldn't find anyone in the water and at 11.50am we stood down.

"If anyone saw what happened or has any information about the person on the Humber Bridge, they should contact police."

The bridge is a notorious suicide spot and since it was opened in July 1981, more than 200 people have jumped or fallen into the river.

Very few people have survived the plunge into the deep water.

A spokesman for the Humber Bridge Board said staff will be examining CCTV.

Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101.

Meanwhile, anyone suffering from depression or anxiety can call Hull Samaritans on 01482 323456.