Tragic Discovery in Hyde Park Lake
A father from Cornwall was tragically found dead in the Serpentine Lake within London's Hyde Park on Christmas Eve, three weeks after he was first reported missing. Gareth Griffiths, aged 45, had travelled to the capital from his home in Cornwall during early December to be with his youngest son, who was undergoing a critical bone marrow transplant at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
Family's Heartbreaking Ordeal
The devoted father was last seen at his child's bedside on Wednesday, December 3rd, before disappearing later that same day. His body was eventually discovered in the lake situated near the Winter Wonderland attraction on December 24th, after members of the public reported seeing what appeared to be a jacket floating in the water.
Gareth's passing has left his family utterly devastated, with his brother describing the moment he received the news as 'the worst day of his life'. The 50-year-old sibling, who restores historical buildings and lives in Ruislip, West London, believes his brother's death was a tragic accident despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding the incident.
Brother's Emotional Account
'I received that awful phone call on December 4th saying he was missing,' the grieving brother revealed. 'Then on Christmas Eve, police officers knocked on my door to inform me he had been found dead. Now I must look after his two children. He was only in London to support his son during medical treatment. This is incredibly difficult to process.'
The brother continued with heartbreaking detail: 'Someone reported seeing what they thought was a jacket floating in the water. When authorities went to investigate, that jacket turned out to be my brother. It was Gareth. Police came to me on Christmas Eve with the news. Christmas Day became the worst day of my life when I had to tell our mother. Boxing Day was my 50th birthday, but we couldn't celebrate. I had to inform his son and watch his world completely fall apart. Every future Christmas will serve as a constant reminder of when these boys lost their father.'
Remembering a Devoted Father
Gareth was remembered as 'a lovely, fun-loving person who enjoyed life and lived entirely for his children'. In one of his final photographs, the father-of-two was seen wearing a distinctive 'Hugo' jumper and a grey beanie hat. His brother is currently organising funeral arrangements while planning a special trip with Gareth's two nephews to scatter their father's ashes at sea.
'I would like to take them out to sea to properly say goodbye to their dad,' Gareth's brother explained about his plans. 'It would be meaningful to go as one complete family unit. Everything about this situation is profoundly sad, but I'm grateful I could accompany him on his final journey.'
Police Investigation Continues
The Metropolitan Police first filed a missing person report on December 10th, a full week after Gareth's initial disappearance. Authorities are continuing their efforts to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed: 'On Wednesday, 24 December, police were called to Hyde Park following concerns for the welfare of a man in the water. Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service, and the man was sadly declared deceased at the scene. His next of kin were notified immediately and are receiving support from specialist officers. The death is currently being treated as unexpected, and enquiries remain ongoing.'
The police appeal noted that Gareth was believed to have connections to several London areas including Westminster, Harrow, and Islington, as well as to Devon and Cornwall where he originally resided.
Family Challenges Ahead
Gareth's brother is now caring for the 13-year-old son in London while the children's mother looks after their eldest child, aged 15. The sibling discovered Gareth was missing on December 4th, just one day after the Cornwall resident had visited his son who was being treated for aplastic anaemia, a serious blood disorder.
'The last time I spoke with Gareth was a couple of weeks before he went missing,' his brother recalled emotionally. 'He was genuinely a nice person, and it's tremendously sad that he's gone, particularly given how everything unfolded. He was very laid back and fun-loving. He dedicated so much to his boys and was an exceptional father. Whenever he wasn't working, he would be spending time with his children.'
Before Gareth's son required hospital treatment, the three of them were constantly together. 'Now, not even the boys can be together regularly,' his brother noted sorrowfully. 'That's perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this entire tragedy.'
As a self-employed individual, Gareth's brother faces additional concerns about financing the funeral arrangements planned for the coming weeks, adding practical worries to the profound emotional burden the family must now carry.
