A MAN who jumped into a fast-flowing river when he mistakenly thought he was being followed by a police helicopter is feared dead.

John Fisher, of Gilesgate, Durham, is believed to have jumped into the River Wear near Barker's Hough sewage works, at about 2am on Monday.

A police underwater search team failed to recover the man by Wednesday afternoon and said they were not hopeful of finding him alive.

His 20-year-old friend, who has not been named, said they had been worried the police were following them. The friend heard a splash, which he thought was Mr Fisher leaping into the water with him but didn't wait for him when he got to the other side.

A police spokesman said the helicopter was on a routine operation and was not following them. He added that it was thought the men believed jumping in to the river would prevent the thermal heat detector on the helicopter tracking them down.

Mr Fisher's disappearance was not reported to police until his friend went to visit him at his home on Moorlands, on Monday evening.

He is 5ft 11in with close cropped blond hair. He wore a fleece jacket and Calvin Klein jogging trousers.

Insp Paul Goundry said: "Our main concern at this time is for John's well-being and we need him to contact police or his family straight away.