Brit presumed dead after being pushed overboard during stag-do cruise in Portugal
Body of the City worker is still missing after cracking his head
A City finance worker is presumed dead after being pushed overboard during a stag-do river cruise in Portugal.
The 32-year-old was one of a dozen Brits on board when he was allegedly tipped into the water shortly after cracking his head on Saturday.
One of the fellow revellers has been questioned by police as an 'arguido' - a suspect - over the prank which could lead to a manslaughter charge.
However, his family say it was simply an accident and have been told no-one will actually be charged.
Lisbon-based Maritime Police chief Malaquais Dominguez said the sea and helicopter search would likely be called-off this evening.
The risk manager was on his best friend's stag-do.
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The group booked the boat for a four hour voyage on Lisbon's River Tagus - a tributary of the Atlantic - when they anchored for lunch around midday.
A court in the nearby resort of Cascais has launched a criminal probe into the victim being pushed, hitting his head on the vessel and being knocked unconscious as he fell.
Mr Dominguez said it was a "prank gone wrong" and added: “There had been no excessive drinking.
“The only intention here was to give a friend a soaking by putting him in the water.
“The bad luck was that he hit his head as he was pushed in and was knocked out.
“When they saw he didn’t come back up, two of them including the one who allegedly pushed him, dived into the water to try to find him but couldn’t.
“I have no doubt they will live with this terrible moment for the rest of their lives.
“The matter is out of my hands now and it is up to the courts to decide what steps should be taken.
“Sadly I know we are searching for a body now and have no hopes of finding him alive after all this time.
“My worst fear is that it has been taken out to sea which is something that could happen with the currents over a period of days.
“I obviously retain hope that we can recover his body and return it to his family to give them some peace."
The brave skipper of the vessel is understood to have been injured when he dived-in, and police have not been able to yet interview him in hospital.
An uncle at the family home said: "The parents have not been given the impression he will be found alive.
"The maritime police has submitted its investigation to the report to the court, but the consulate has explained the person questioned will not be charged as it was an accident."
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are in contact with local authorities and providing consular support after a British national was reported missing in Portugal.”