This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86q971epx7o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Claerwen Reservoir: Mystery of body in a wetsuit puzzles police | Claerwen Reservoir: Mystery of body in a wetsuit puzzles police |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| When a walker called 999 to say he had seen a body in a wetsuit floating in a remote reservoir, detectives got to work. | When a walker called 999 to say he had seen a body in a wetsuit floating in a remote reservoir, detectives got to work. |
| Search teams combed the barren marshland on foot near to where he was found while a helicopter and drones searched for any clues on how and why he got there. | Search teams combed the barren marshland on foot near to where he was found while a helicopter and drones searched for any clues on how and why he got there. |
| Investigators have asked UK police forces to check their missing people registers and have spoken to Interpol because the area can be popular with tourists. | Investigators have asked UK police forces to check their missing people registers and have spoken to Interpol because the area can be popular with tourists. |
| Despite forensic tests, extensive inquiries and searches and appeals for information, detectives still have not solved the mystery of the man in the wetsuit. | Despite forensic tests, extensive inquiries and searches and appeals for information, detectives still have not solved the mystery of the man in the wetsuit. |
| He was found just before 08:30 on a Friday morning last October in the eerily still rolling mid-Wales countryside. | He was found just before 08:30 on a Friday morning last October in the eerily still rolling mid-Wales countryside. |
| Investigators suspect he might have been in the vast Claerwen Reservoir for up to 12 weeks - so could have been in the water since as far back as July and in the height of summer. | Investigators suspect he might have been in the vast Claerwen Reservoir for up to 12 weeks - so could have been in the water since as far back as July and in the height of summer. |
| What police know about 'unusual' death | What police know about 'unusual' death |
| What police say is "highly unusual" about the man in the wetsuit is that no evidence of his personal belongings or an abandoned car or bike were ever discovered. | What police say is "highly unusual" about the man in the wetsuit is that no evidence of his personal belongings or an abandoned car or bike were ever discovered. |
| But with no clothes or vehicle found and the nearest bus stop about four hours' walk away, police do think it is unlikely he walked there in his wetsuit. | But with no clothes or vehicle found and the nearest bus stop about four hours' walk away, police do think it is unlikely he walked there in his wetsuit. |
| When emergency crews recovered the body, it was highly decomposed and taken to a nearby morgue for examination. Fingerprint and DNA tests failed to find any matches. | When emergency crews recovered the body, it was highly decomposed and taken to a nearby morgue for examination. Fingerprint and DNA tests failed to find any matches. |
| Police have put out an appeal for information about a man found dead in Claerwen Reservoir wearing a wetsuit usually used by triathletes and open water swimmers | Police have put out an appeal for information about a man found dead in Claerwen Reservoir wearing a wetsuit usually used by triathletes and open water swimmers |
| All police know is he is a white man, aged between 30 and 60, and was wearing a Zone 3 Agile wetsuit. | All police know is he is a white man, aged between 30 and 60, and was wearing a Zone 3 Agile wetsuit. |
| As the £200 wetsuit was extra large in size, officers expect the man was between 6ft and 6ft 5ins (1.83 to 1.96m) tall, weighed between 14 and 15 stone (89-95kg) with a 44–48in chest. | As the £200 wetsuit was extra large in size, officers expect the man was between 6ft and 6ft 5ins (1.83 to 1.96m) tall, weighed between 14 and 15 stone (89-95kg) with a 44–48in chest. |
| What's the area like where the body was found? | What's the area like where the body was found? |
| It was a blustery February day when we travelled along the single track lane to the top of the reservoir's imposing 183ft (56m) dam. | It was a blustery February day when we travelled along the single track lane to the top of the reservoir's imposing 183ft (56m) dam. |
| Mist covered the surrounding Powys landscape and there were no birds or other signs of life, beyond a few sheep dotted across the bare hills that belong to a remote farm above. | Mist covered the surrounding Powys landscape and there were no birds or other signs of life, beyond a few sheep dotted across the bare hills that belong to a remote farm above. |
| While we visited, a handful of visitors arrived in their cars to walk along the dam and back. We did not see a single walker or cyclist. | While we visited, a handful of visitors arrived in their cars to walk along the dam and back. We did not see a single walker or cyclist. |
| A walker found the body in the wetsuit at the north shore of the reservoir | A walker found the body in the wetsuit at the north shore of the reservoir |
| Even in the height of summer, when police think the man in the wetsuit might have died, locals say visitors to this particular reservoir are few and far between. | Even in the height of summer, when police think the man in the wetsuit might have died, locals say visitors to this particular reservoir are few and far between. |
| The nearby town of Rhayader is a cycling and walking hub and a popular stop-off for people driving between north and south Wales. | The nearby town of Rhayader is a cycling and walking hub and a popular stop-off for people driving between north and south Wales. |
| Alan Austin, who chairs a local rambling group and regularly walks in the area, said he has "never" seen anyone swimming in the water of Claerwen Reservoir. | Alan Austin, who chairs a local rambling group and regularly walks in the area, said he has "never" seen anyone swimming in the water of Claerwen Reservoir. |
| "It can be extremely dangerous," he said. | "It can be extremely dangerous," he said. |
| "The water can get very cold, water from the reservoir pours over the dams when it's been raining." | "The water can get very cold, water from the reservoir pours over the dams when it's been raining." |
| Other residents asked how someone could get there with no obvious means of transport, and why his belongings would not be found on the shore. | Other residents asked how someone could get there with no obvious means of transport, and why his belongings would not be found on the shore. |
| The Claerwen Reservoir in mid Wales helps provide drinking water to Birmingham and the West Midlands | The Claerwen Reservoir in mid Wales helps provide drinking water to Birmingham and the West Midlands |
| Rosemary Stow, who runs craft gallery Quillies, said most tourists do not make it past the visitor centre in the nearby Elan Valley. | Rosemary Stow, who runs craft gallery Quillies, said most tourists do not make it past the visitor centre in the nearby Elan Valley. |
| "You don't see a lot of cars up at Claerwen dam or in the car park below, it is such a lonely place," she said. | "You don't see a lot of cars up at Claerwen dam or in the car park below, it is such a lonely place," she said. |
| "People here are asking, has he been dumped there? But if he was dumped why put him in a wetsuit?" | "People here are asking, has he been dumped there? But if he was dumped why put him in a wetsuit?" |
| What do police believe happened to man in wetsuit? | What do police believe happened to man in wetsuit? |
| The police's working hypothesis is the man "entered the water voluntarily" sometime during the summer. | The police's working hypothesis is the man "entered the water voluntarily" sometime during the summer. |
| "It is not a known swimming area but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen," Det Insp Anthea Ponting of Dyfed-Powys Police told BBC News. | "It is not a known swimming area but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen," Det Insp Anthea Ponting of Dyfed-Powys Police told BBC News. |
| She said her team were keeping an "open mind" on what might have happened, but said police can only base their theories on "known information". | She said her team were keeping an "open mind" on what might have happened, but said police can only base their theories on "known information". |
| Swimming and other water sports are banned at Claerwen Reservoir | Swimming and other water sports are banned at Claerwen Reservoir |
| In July and August, the water temperature could have been 10C (50F) at the surface, but because of the reservoir's depth it can become far colder. | In July and August, the water temperature could have been 10C (50F) at the surface, but because of the reservoir's depth it can become far colder. |
| Water under 16C (61F) is considered hazardous for cold water shock and signs along the shore warn against swimming or other water-based activities. | Water under 16C (61F) is considered hazardous for cold water shock and signs along the shore warn against swimming or other water-based activities. |
| Claerwen Reservoir is the largest and most remote of the Elan Valley dams in Powys - and all five help provide Birmingham with its drinking water. | Claerwen Reservoir is the largest and most remote of the Elan Valley dams in Powys - and all five help provide Birmingham with its drinking water. |
| The Claerwen dam was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 as her first engagement in Wales. | The Claerwen dam was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 as her first engagement in Wales. |
| These dams are no stranger to deaths - 55 people die in inland waters across Wales every year and the local fire station has a boat for this reason. | These dams are no stranger to deaths - 55 people die in inland waters across Wales every year and the local fire station has a boat for this reason. |
| Police have appealed to the public for help, but the tip offs they had have not given any new leads. | Police have appealed to the public for help, but the tip offs they had have not given any new leads. |
| "It is an unusual situation to be three or four months down the line," added Det Insp Ponting. | "It is an unusual situation to be three or four months down the line," added Det Insp Ponting. |
| "In my experience there are not many missing people cases where we haven't identified the person or identified loved ones after this period of time. | "In my experience there are not many missing people cases where we haven't identified the person or identified loved ones after this period of time. |
| Claerwen dam was featured in Richard Hammond's final series of the BBC show Top Gear | |
| "At this time it is not believed to be any criminal activity. We always keep an open mind. | "At this time it is not believed to be any criminal activity. We always keep an open mind. |
| "The most important thing for this person is to know who they are and to ascertain how they died, and have that information for their loved ones. | "The most important thing for this person is to know who they are and to ascertain how they died, and have that information for their loved ones. |
| "If anyone who hasn't contacted us previously thinks they may know who this male is or have a concern for somebody and they feel they could be this person, please get in touch with us." | "If anyone who hasn't contacted us previously thinks they may know who this male is or have a concern for somebody and they feel they could be this person, please get in touch with us." |