Annie Lennox’s girl watches in horror as lover swept away in kayak accident
THE daughter of singer Annie Lennox watched in horror as her boyfriend was swept away when their kayak overturned.
Tali Lennox, 22, could only look on as 32-year- old Ian Jones was dragged under by fierce currents. He is now feared drowned.
Neither were wearing life vests and officers last night said alcohol ‘may have played a role’ in the incident – which happened the morning after the pair had been to a party.
Former model Miss Lennox spent almost 20 minutes desperately trying to stay afloat before being rescued by a passing boat on the River Hudson in New York state. She was said to be ‘distraught’ last night as the search continued for Mr Jones, a portrait photographer based in New York city.
Police said they became separated after they were thrown into the water about 300ft from the river bank and
‘Alcohol may have played a role’
were prevented from swimming to safety by strong currents.
Captain John Watterson, from Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department, said: ‘It was all they could do to stay afloat. Had they been wearing a life jacket we would be looking at a different situation.’
It is thought the couple had not hired the kayak from a local business, which would have required the renters to wear safety vests, but had instead found the craft at the bed and breakfast lodging where they were staying for the weekend.
However, they got into trouble as they paddled near the hamlet of Staatsburg about 70 miles from New York city on Saturday morning. Thrown into the water far from the river bank, they were hampered by the fast flowing Hudson, which has a reputation for ‘treacherous’ undercurrents.
Miss Lennox – whose mother Annie was lead singer in the 1980s band Eurythmics – lost track of long-term boyfriend Mr Jones and was eventually pulled from the water when she was spotted by a passing boat. There was no sign of her companion, who was wearing jeans and a denim shirt at the time.
The night before going out on the water they had attended a party with friends at the historic Mills Mansion on the banks of the River Hudson.
‘We know that they attended a party the night before going out on the water,’ said Captain Watterson.
‘We believe that alcohol may have played a role.’
Police admitted there was little hope of finding Mr Jones alive after a 12hour search on Saturday and again yesterday. Officers based in the city of Poughkeepsie were drafted in to hunt for the photographer, along with several fire departments, a dive team, maritime unit and a helicopter.
London-born Miss Lennox was uninjured and is said to have helped police ‘extensively’ with the investigation. She also asked to remain at the scene as search teams scoured the water for her boyfriend. Police do not suspect foul play.
Miss Lennox – the daughter of Annie and filmmaker and photog- rapher Uri Fruchtmann – moved to the US two years to pursue a career as a professional artist.
She recently staged her first solo exhibition at the Catherine Ahnell gallery in Soho, New York.
During her modelling career she posed for several well known brands, including Topshop and Prada.
A spokesman for Annie Lennox was unavailable for comment.