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Man's handcuffed body found in Southampton river | Man's handcuffed body found in Southampton river |
(32 minutes later) | |
The body of a man who fled police in January has been found in a river still wearing handcuffs. | |
The 22-year-old, named locally as Reece Hillier, ran off after being detained by officers in Southampton. | |
Police launched a manhunt but found no trace of him - until a magnet fisherman discovered a body in the River Itchen at Woodmill on Sunday. | Police launched a manhunt but found no trace of him - until a magnet fisherman discovered a body in the River Itchen at Woodmill on Sunday. |
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has agreed the death should be investigated by Hampshire Constabulary. | |
It is not known whether the man entered the water by accident or in an attempt to evade the police. | |
The BBC has been told he was about to be searched for drugs and faced the possibility of arrest. | The BBC has been told he was about to be searched for drugs and faced the possibility of arrest. |
Gary Fussell said he was magnet fishing when he "saw something floating in the water, told the police officer and they came to sort it out." | Gary Fussell said he was magnet fishing when he "saw something floating in the water, told the police officer and they came to sort it out." |
Mr Fussell said the man was handcuffed behind his back. | Mr Fussell said the man was handcuffed behind his back. |
Friends of Mr Hillier, who was from Southampton, said he was "the life of the party" and a "loveable rogue". | |
His girlfriend, Britney Bellows, said he was "always singing and dancing and filling the room with laughter and joy". | |
Floral tributes and balloons have been left at the scene. | |
The death is not being treated as suspicious, police said. | The death is not being treated as suspicious, police said. |
The force said it was called at 18:19 GMT on 17 March after a body was found in the river. | The force said it was called at 18:19 GMT on 17 March after a body was found in the river. |
"Identification has now taken place and we can confirm that the body is of a 22-year-old man from Southampton," a spokesman said. | "Identification has now taken place and we can confirm that the body is of a 22-year-old man from Southampton," a spokesman said. |
"We can confirm that he was handcuffed, having been detained by police in Southampton on 12 January. | "We can confirm that he was handcuffed, having been detained by police in Southampton on 12 January. |
"Initial inquiries suggest the body had been in the water for some time." | "Initial inquiries suggest the body had been in the water for some time." |
A post-mortem examination took place on Monday and an inquest will be opened when the body has been formally identified. | A post-mortem examination took place on Monday and an inquest will be opened when the body has been formally identified. |