A father was tragically found dead in Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake on Christmas Eve, three weeks after he was reported missing.
Gareth Griffiths had travelled to London from his home in Cornwall in early December to visit his youngest son, 13, who was undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
The 45-year-old was at his child’s bedside on Wednesday, December 3, but went missing later that day, sparking a three week search to find him.
He was eventually found dead in a lake situated near Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park on Christmas Eve, police confirmed, after a member of the public reported seeing a body in the water.
Gareth’s passing has left his family devastated. His brother, who does not wish to be named, describes the day he was told the news as ‘the worst of his life’.
The 50-year-old, a father-of-two himself, believes Gareth’s death was a ‘tragic accident’ despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding it.
‘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.
‘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.’
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.
