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Police confirm body recovered from the River Thames is Harvey Parker

"Our heartfelt thanks to you for your care and support, and for respecting our privacy at this time."

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures: Metropolitan Police

It’s been confirmed that the body recovered from the River Thames is that of the missing 20-year-old Harvey Parker.

The news was confirmed earlier today (6 January) by the Inner West London Coroner’s Court. A body was first found by the RNLI and reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday 4 January. 

Harvey’s family has been updated and the death is still being treated as unexplained. 

“Our deepest thanks”

In a short statement Detective Chief Inspector Lucy O’Connor, of the Central South Command Unit, said: “We are providing Harvey’s family with all the available information. We are also asking for media to please respect the family’s privacy at this challenging and difficult time.”

A statement from Harvey’s family was posted on Instagram on Wednesday 5 January prior to formal identification.

It reads: “Our deepest thanks to all of you who searched with us, posted, shared, and supported us and the Met police in finding Harvey. Your love and support ensured so many people knew something of the blazing, glorious person that we were lucky to have in our lives.”

 
 
 
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Continuing it says: “So many people have asked what they can do to help, and your asking is testament to the number of lives Harvey touched.

“Harvey’s friends have created a Just Giving Page to support the work of the communities he was part of money raised will go to young queer support groups, neurodiverse and gender diverse young people who’d benefit from emotional or mental health support and to help support talented musicians from under-represented communities.

“We want to ensure that others like Harvey are able to shine as brightly. Our heartfelt thanks to you for your care and support, and for respecting our privacy at this time.”

The crowdfunding page had an initial target of £10,000 but at the time of writing had exceeded that, reaching more than £48,000. 

Our thoughts go out to Harvey’s family and friends.