Body is spotted in river

Jan 3 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

A YOUNG man was found dead in the River Tyne yesterday, just hours after being reported missing from his home.

The man’s body was trapped in ropes when he was pulled out of the river near to the Customs House theatre in South Shields at 4.30am.

Police had been searching the area for the man, in his 20s and from South Shields, after he was reported missing just after midnight.

He was thought to be vulnerable and distressed and officers made checks at a number of places he was known to visit.

A car believed to be his was found by police officers parked at the theatre, at Mill Dam, at around 3.30am.

They called for help from coastguard and lifeboat crews, who went into the water at 3.45am. The man’s body was pulled out of the river 45 minutes later.

Last night the man had not yet been formally identified and his identity was not being released by police, who said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: “We received a call just after midnight about concern for a man in his 20s who was missing from home in South Shields.

“Police began a search of places he was known to frequent in the area and found a Vauxhall Cavalier, believed to belong to him, parked near the Customs House.

“Officers began a search of the area with the help of the coastguard and the body of an adult male was found.”

Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat said: “Tynemouth RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew carried out a search of the south bank of the River Tyne in a pattern taking tides and current into account, while South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade also searched along the shore.

“At approximately 4.30am a body was found in the river, trapped in ropes near Mill Dam, South Shields. It’s a sad outcome.”