River cruise tragedy as man drowns after slipping

A restaurant worker drowned when he fell into the Thames while leaving a pleasure cruiser.

Jair Fernandes Murillo, 32, fell overboard while trying to get off the Hurlingham at Westminster Pier. His body was not recovered from the river for five days.

Mr Murillo, who worked for Leon's f ast food health restaurant chain, had been on a firm's outing when he lost his footing and fell into the water. The chain is owned by David Dimbleby's son Henry.

Mr Dimbleby said: "He really was a tremendous guy. This is tragic. This was a horrible accident and everyone at Leon is deeply upset. We are a close-knit team and our thoughts are with the family."

A colleague said Mr Murillo slipped while getting off the boat and struck his head as he plunged into the water on 17 August. He described him as "the life and soul of the party".

Today accident investigators from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch ordered a tightening of safety procedures to prevent a similar accident.

It said vessel mooring, passenger control and vessel management were the three main areas of concern.