No answers to mystery of body pulled from Ouse

Published on 7th September 2006 in News

Mystery still surrounds the death of a man found lying in the mudflats of the River Ouse, in Goole.

The body of Anthony Thompson (49), of Greystones Road, Gainsborough, was spotted by a member of the public on the evening of May 9, an inquest at Hull Coroners' Court heard last Friday.

Cllr Beryl Beck-Taylor said in a statement that she had been walking her dog along the riverbank adjacent to Hook Road when a friend approached her and drew her attention to what appeared to be a fully clothed body on the opposite side of the river.

Cllr Beck-Taylor called the police, and the search unit later recovered the body.

The court heard Mr Thompson was a recovering alcoholic who also had a number of money problems, although he may have been due compensation after an accident at work.

He was last seen by his flatmate on May 4.

His GP, who last saw Mr Thompson on May 4, said his patient had wanted to cut out alcohol completely, but talked of feeling panicky and being unable to sleep when he was not drinking.

Mr Thompson, who married twice and lost a third partner, had attempted to commit suicide in the past. He had lost contact with his daughter and had little contact with his sister.

His father died in January and the court heard from Susan Sargent, payroll administrator at Wefco, in Gainsborough, where Mr Thompson worked, that this had "upset him deeply."

A post-mortem failed to establish whether Mr Thompson had drowned or not. Tests revealed a small amount of alcohol in his body but the court heard this could have been produced naturally.

Mr Thompson had not suffered any injuries and Pc Simon Goldby said there was no reason to suspect anyone else had been involved. No suicide note was found and there was nothing to suggest how or when he got into the water.

Mr Thompson's daughter said that after seeing letters about her father's debts, she could understand how he could have been driven to take his life.

However, coroner Geoffery Saul said he could not be completely sure that it was suicide and recorded an open verdict.