A mother and her seven-year-old son died when she reportedly jumped into a river to save him after he got into difficulty in the water while cooling off.

Emergency services rushed to Elthorne Park in Ealing, west London, just before 4.30pm on Saturday following reports a boy and a woman were struggling in the water.

The mother, 34, and son, seven, were pulled from the River Brent - which borders the park - but both were pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness has since claimed they saw the mother jump into the river to save her son.

'In a matter of seconds' the boy, who they described as 'looking hot', had 'run away' from his mother and leapt into the water, they told The Sun.

She then 'followed him' and they began struggling in the 'strong currents' and deep water as she held onto him, the witness claimed.

They said another person jumped in after them and tried to pull them out of the river but had to let go after struggling in the current themselves.

According to the witness, the tragic incident lasted for around ten minutes.

The Met Police described it as a 'tragic incident' which is not being treated as suspicious.

A Met spokesperson said:  'Further inquiries carried out by officers into the incident have established it was a tragic accident and the deaths of the woman and child who very sadly lost their lives are being treated as non-suspicious.

'Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

'This is understandably an incredibly difficult time for them and they have requested that their privacy be respected.'

On Saturday, Detective Superintendent Pete Thackray, from the Met's west area command unit, acknowledged 'the efforts of the first responders and members of the public who did their very best in an incredibly challenging situation'.

In an X post, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ealing Common Jon Ball said: 'My thoughts go out to the family of those involved in the tragic accident in Elthorne Park today.'