Police say baby survived Thames fall

A 18-month-old girl initially thought to have died when she fell into the River Thames on Wednesday was found to be alive after further hospital checks, police said.

Thames Valley Police said the girl was pronounced dead in hospital after the fall at Goring in Oxfordshire. However, they later said doctors at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital had found a very faint heartbeat.

"She remains in hospital in a critical condition," a police spokesman said.

Officers were called to the riverbank at about 9.45 a.m. following reports the child had gone into the river. She was airlifted to hospital.

Her mother and her other child who were on the river bank at the time were also taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.