Tali Lennox saved and lover missing in kayak horror
THE daughter of Scots singer Annie Lennox watched in horror as her boyfriend was swept away when their kayak capsized in upstate New York.
Artist and former model Tali Lennox, 22, was rescued by a passing boat after being in the water for 20 minutes.
But her 32-year-old boyfriend Ian Jones, a New York-based portrait photographer, is feared drowned after being dragged under by fierce currents in the Hudson River 70 miles north of New York City on Saturday.
A police spokesman said the couple were thrown into the water 100 yards from the river bank when their tandem kayak capsized. Neither was wearing a life vest and the strong current prevented them from swimming to safety.
Police last night said ‘alcohol may have played a role’ in the incident.
Captain John Watterson of Dutchess County Sheriff ’ s Office said: ‘The young lady told us she was in the water for 20 minutes before she was rescued by a passing boat.
‘During that time she became separated from her boyfriend. He is missing and an extensive search has failed to find him.’
Capt Watterson said Miss Lennox was unhurt but ‘distraught’ as she stood with rescuers searching for her boyfriend.
He added: ‘ The kayak capsized about 300ft from the river bank. The Hudson River is very fast- flowing, with a strong undercurrent. They were unable to reach the river bank because of the current.’
Police said the couple had not hired the kayak from a local business, where renters are required to wear life jackets.
Instead, they had found the boat at the B&B where they were staying for the weekend.
The night before the accident they had attended a party with friends at the historic Mills Mansion on the banks of the Hudson River.
Capt Watterson said: ‘ We know they attended a party the night before going out on the water. We believe alcohol may have played a role.’
He added that Miss Lennox had helped the police investigation ‘extensively’.
But he said she had confirmed they had been drinking the night before. ‘What part alcohol played will be part of the investigation,’ he added.
Search teams from the Sheriff ’s Department in Poughkeepsie spent more than 12 hours looking for Mr Jones but were unable to find any sign of him.
Fire service personnel, a diving team and a maritime unit also took part i n the search, which lasted throughout the day on Saturday.
A helicopter was used to aid the search over a wide area, as it was believed Mr Jones might have been carried a substantial distance downstream.
Capt Watterson said river conditions made the search difficult and it had to be called off on Saturday night.
He added that the couple had been paddling near Mills Mansion in the hamlet of Staatsburg when the kayak capsized and they went into the water about 10am.
Capt Watterson said: ‘ While they were in the water they became separated. It was all they could do to stay afloat. Had they been wearing life jackets, we would be looking at a different situation.
‘A passing boat was able to pull the young lady from the water, but there was no sign of her companion.
‘The Hudson River has a very strong current that isn’t always apparent to people who are unfamiliar with it. It can be treacherous.’
He confirmed the search had resumed at 7.30am yesterday, but admitted there was little hope Mr Jones had survived.
After being checked over by paramedics, Miss Lennox asked to remain at the scene of the search for her missing boyfriend.
Miss Lennox, whose father is Israeli filmmaker and photographer 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 New York City’s trendy SoHo area.
While working for such wellknown brands as Topshop and Prada during her modelling career, Miss Lennox has said: ‘Painting is what I truly love. I don’t really like having my pictures taken.’
Although her work has been very well received, Miss Lennox has never painted her former Eurythmics star mother on canvas.
Earlier this year, she said of her mother: ‘I am such a perfectionist and I worry that it might not turn out as amazing as I would want it to.
‘She is so important to me and I want it to be just right.’
Last night, Aberdeen-born Annie Lennox was unavailable for comment.
‘Alcohol may have played a role’ ‘River has a very strong current’