Man’s body found in Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

The man - believed to be aged in his 50s - was found by crews from Severn Area Rescue Association along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal near Parkend Bridge on Sunday, July 2. 

Emergency services - including Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Gloucestershire Police and SARA - were carrying out searches in Moreton Valence as part of a missing person case.

According to police, the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious, and his next of kin has been notified. 

A police spokesperson said: “Police were conducting searches in the area of Parkend Bridge in Moreton Valence near Gloucester at around 10.30am on Sunday (July 2) as part of enquiries to locate a man who had been reported missing. 

“The body of a man in his 50s was recovered from the water following enquiries with colleagues from the Severn Area Rescue Association. 

“The man’s death is being treated as non-suspicious and his next of kin has been informed.

"A report has been prepared for the Coroner’s Office.

The man's body was found along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal near Parkend Bridge (Image: Google Maps)

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines from Tewkesbury and Stroud were dispatched, along with a rescue boat.

A spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.46am on Sunday, July 2, to reports of a missing person in the canal near Parkend Bridge.

“Two fire engines, from Tewkesbury and Stroud, attended alongside a boat from Tewkesbury.

“The boat was used to explore the canal and a body was recovered.

“The fire service handed the incident over to police and left the scene at 3.15pm.” 

A spokesperson for Severn Area Rescue Association said in a statement: “SARA Land and Inland Water Search Teams were called out yesterday morning, to support Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search in the area of Moreten Valence, south of Gloucester.  

“Team members from SARA stations at Tewkesbury, Beachley, Sharpness, Wyre Forest and Cotswolds were deployed.

“Very sadly during the search a body was discovered. 

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man concerned.

“Many thanks to all who responded.

"It is always very sad when a search results in our volunteers finding a body, but we know that this can bring some closure to the friends and family of the missing person.

"We are always proud of the way in which our team members conduct themselves on these occasions and we have the processes in place to support them if necessary in the days following such a callout."

Editor's note: Yesterday, we published information from Gloucestershire police stating that a man's body had been recovered from the river at Bowbridge Lock in Stroud. 

Police have now confirmed that this information was incorrect and in fact related to a body found at Moreton Valence.