Large Conger Eel Washes up Near Kew Bridge

Powerful seasonal tides and cleaner water could explain find

The creature was in a remarkably good condition. Picture: Anita Milewczyk

October 30, 2026

An unusual discovery was made along the Thames foreshore near Strand on the Green earlier this month when local resident Anita Milewczyk stumbled upon an unlikely riverbank sight just 120 metres from Kew Bridge. Resting on the river mud was the carcass of a large marine predator, later identified as a European Conger Eel.

Initial uncertainty surrounding the unusual creature was quickly resolved through local community expertise. Anita sought help to identify the specimen with the assistance of Lou from Moxons Fishmongers, who circulated photographs of the find through his professional network and specialized WhatsApp group. The group of seafood experts rapidly confirmed the identity of the creature. This was a surprise as conger eels are saltwater ocean dwellers rather than river creatures.

Remarkably, despite its long journey inland, the specimen was found in exceptionally good condition. Local scavengers, likely urban gulls or foxes, had only taken an eye and a portion of the tail end before the discovery was made, leaving the rest of the body intact for identification.

The European Conger Eel is a saltwater dweller so probably died further downstream. Picture: Anita Milewczyk

Unlike common freshwater European eels, which regularly migrate upstream into rivers as juveniles, conger eels are ocean-dwelling predators that typically inhabit deep coastal waters, shipwrecks, and rocky reefs around the British coastline. Finding one nearly 60 miles inland from the North Sea at Kew Bridge is a rare event that highlights the tidal power of the Thames which is increased at this time of the year .

Local naturalists point to a combination of powerful autumn spring tides and the recent activation of the Thames Tideway Tunnel super sewer to explain the arrival. The massive autumn tides create strong flood surges capable of sweeping disoriented or deceased marine life far upriver. At the same time, the super sewer has dramatically improved oxygen levels and water quality throughout the Thames, allowing marine life and tidal drift to travel deeper into West London than was possible in recent decades.

Though the conger eel likely succumbed to the low salinity of the river far downstream, its remarkable state of preservation at Strand on the Green is a reminder of the direct connection of the local river and the open sea.