Police in Worcestershire are appealing for the public’s help as they try to trace a dead man who was found in the River Avon last week.
Officers were called to the Weir Meadow Caravan Park in the town of Evesham at 10.10am on Wednesday 19 February when a member of the public spotted a body in the river that had been caught on a boat mooring.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent a boat crew to recover the man, who appeared to have been in the water for some days.
However, detectives have not been able to identity him: he had no ID or wallet on him and he does not fit any outstanding missing persons reports from Worcestershire or any of the policing areas upstream from Evesham – i.e. Warwickshire, West Midlands, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
After an appeal locally failed to trace the man, Detectives are releasing nationwide images of the clothes he wearing when he was found, which are:
- A pair of well-used Caterpillar boots;
- A studded leather belt;
- A tweed-like coat worn under a dark blue body warmer;
- A thick-knit jumper with a zipped collar;
- A blue and red-checked shirt;
- Dark blue jeans.
Found in a pocket were a pair of metal-rimmed glasses in a hard, blue case from Boots.
Detective Sergeant Chris Percival, who is leading the search, said: “Usually in such tragic cases, we can quickly identify the person and inform their next of kin, so it is unfortunate that with this man we have so little to go on.
“We thought it was more likely the man was from Worcestershire or Warwickshire, but our local appeals have not been successful, so we spreading our appeal nationally and sending his details to police forces across the country.
“I hope someone somewhere will recognise the description and the clothes he was wearing, and contact West Mercia Police straightway.”
DS Percival can be contacted at Worcester CID via the non-emergency police number 101 or information can be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers (0800 555 111 or via their website : www.crimestoppers-uk.org). Please quote the reference number 151s 19/02/14.
