A heart-wrenching discovery was made on Christmas Eve as a father was found deceased in the Serpentine Lake located in Hyde Park, three weeks after he had been reported missing.
Gareth Griffiths had journeyed from his home in Cornwall to London in early December to be with his 13-year-old son, who was undergoing a critical bone marrow transplant at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
The 45-year-old was last seen beside his son’s hospital bed on December 3, but disappeared later that day, prompting an extensive three-week search effort.
Tragically, his body was uncovered on Christmas Eve near the Winter Wonderland attraction in Hyde Park. Police confirmed the discovery after a passerby alerted them to a body in the water.
Gareth’s untimely death has shattered his family. His brother, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed that the day he received the tragic news was the most devastating of his life.
A father of two himself, Gareth’s brother suspects that despite the unclear circumstances, his sibling’s death was nothing more than a tragic accident.
‘I got that awful phone call on the fourth saying he was missing,’ the sibling, who restores historical buildings and lives in Ruislip, West London, said.
‘On Christmas Eve, police knocked on my door to tell me he’s dead. Now I have to look after his two children. He was in London for his son’s treatment. It’s very hard at the moment.
Gareth Griffiths, 45, was found dead on Christmas Eve three weeks after he was last seen visiting his son in hospital
The father-of-two was spotted wearing a ‘Hugo’ jumper and a grey beanie shortly before he disappeared
‘Somebody said they thought they saw a jacket floating in the water. When they went to check, that jacket was my brother. It was Gareth.
‘Police came to me on Christmas Eve and told me. Christmas Day was the worst day of my life, going to tell my mum.
‘Boxing Day was my 50th birthday, but we didn’t have a celebration. I had to tell his son and watch his world fall apart. Every Christmas is going to be a constant reminder of when the boys lost their father.
‘Gareth was a lovely, fun-loving guy. He enjoyed life and lived for his kids.’
Gareth’s sibling is currently organising his funeral, while planning a trip away with his two nephews to scatter their father’s ashes. He is taking care of Gareth’s 13-year-old son in London while their mother is looking after his eldest, 15.
Gareth’s brother plans to hold his funeral in the coming weeks, but, being self-employed, is worried about how he will afford it.
He found out that Gareth, a builder by trade, was missing on December 4, just a day after the Cornwall resident visited his son, who was being treated for aplastic anaemia.
‘I’d like to take them to sea, to say goodbye to their dad,’ Gareth’s brother said of his plans to scatter his ashes. ‘It would be nice to go as one big family.
‘Everything about it was so sad. But I’m glad I took him on his last voyage.’
Gareth was described as a ‘very laid back and fun-loving’ person who loved his children very much
He continued: ‘The last time I spoke to Gareth was a couple of weeks before he went missing. He was a nice guy and it’s so sad he’s gone, and the way it all happened.
‘He was very laid back and fun-loving. He did a lot for his boys. He was a great dad. If he wasn’t working, he would be with his boys.
‘Before Gareth’s son went to hospital, they were always together, the three of them. Now, not even the boys are together. That’s the saddest thing about it all.’
The Metropolitan Police first filed a missing person report on December 10, a week after Gareth’s disappearance, and are working to uncover the cause of his death.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘On Wednesday, 24 December, police were called to Hyde Park following the concern for welfare of a man in the water.
‘Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and the man was sadly declared dead at the scene.
‘His next of kin were notified at the time and are being supported by specialist officers.
‘The death is being treated as unexpected, and enquiries remain ongoing.’
The appeal added that Gareth was believed to have connections to Westminster, Harrow and Islington in London, as well as to Devon and Cornwall.
