A MAN'S body has been pulled from the river Thames as police continued their search for missing student Harvey Parker.

       Cops were called by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at around 11.50 on Tuesday amid reports of a body in the Thames near Embankment, Westminster.

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       The family of Harvey Parker have been notified after a body was found in the Thames Credit: met police

       It is just a stone's throw from where the 20-year-old student was last seen on December 16 after leaving Heaven nightclub near Charing Cross Station in the early hours.

       The university student had attended a Lil Simz concert at the O2 Academy in Brixton prior to his last known location at the LGBTQ+ nightclub.

       He was then spotted on further CCTV footage entering Craven Street and walking south towards the Embankment.

       Officers from the Met’s Marine Support Unit recovered the body as the desperate hunt to find Harvey continued.

       Although the body has not yet been formally identified, the 20-year-old's family have been notified about the horror discovery on Tuesday afternoon.

       In a statement from his loved ones in wake of the finding, they told of their heartbreak and paid tribute to their "blazing, glorious" son.

       It read: "We are so very sad to report that police have recovered a body from the Thames near where our beautiful Harvey was last seen.

       "Formal identification is underway. Our deepest thanks to all of you who searched with us, posted, shared, and supported us and the Met police in finding Harvey.

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       "Your love and support ensured so many people knew something of the blazing, glorious person that we were lucky to have in our lives.

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

       It continued by explaining Harvey's pals had created a JustGiving page to support the work of several communities he was a 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."

       The Met announced detectives leading the search for Harvey have also been notified.

       The death of the unidentified victim is currently being treated as unexplained and a report is being compiled for a coroner.

       Police said family liaison officers are assisting Harvey's family amid continuing developments.

       Detective Chief Inspector Lucy O’Connor, of the Central South Command Unit, said: "Sadly a body has been recovered from the Thames near where Harvey was last seen.

       "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."

       Harvey, who is originally from Lambeth, South London, is in his second year at the University of York.

       A mass appeal to find the 20-year-old was launched after friends and family had no contact with him for four days.

       Writing on social media, his uncle Sylvester Lennon said: "Please help us find my kind and gentle nephew."

       Another unnamed relative added that the family was "desperate" for information and asked for the public to re-post the police's online appeal to find Harvey.

       A Twitter user added: "He is 20, autistic, non-binary, vulnerable.

       "He's missed 3 work shifts and not on socials since 1.30 Friday morning - unheard of - and not in touch with any friends.

       "His family has visited all London hospitals and informed police."

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       The university student had attended a Lil Simz concert at the O2 Academy in Brixton prior to his last known location at Heaven nightclub in central London Credit: met police