THE family of a missing Southampton man have been informed that a body has been found today.

Emergency services were called to Woodmill Lane in Southampton at 8am this morning after a dead man was found in the River Itchen by a member of the public.

Police and fire crews from Redbridge and St Marys Fire Stations have been at the scene this morning, close to Woodmill Activity Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

Emergency Services were called and Woodmill Lane was closed off for up to two hours as police and rescue teams from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services worked to recover the body.

The find comes after officers spent days searching for 51-year-old Barrie Thompson (pictured below) after he went missing from his home since May 14.

Daily Echo:

The emergency services launched a major hunt last weekend which saw officers scour Southampton, including the River Itchen and coastlines after his car was found at Woodmill Activities Centre.

Daily Echo:

A helicopter flew over the city and patrol boats searched the waters while officers and sniffer dogs checked gardens backing onto Riverside park.

Following the discovery of the dead man today police have confirmed they have informed Mr Thompson family.

But the police said they were not yet in the position to formally identify the body. 

A spokeswoman from Hampshire Police said: "Police have launched an investigation after a body was found at Woodmill Lane earlier this morning.

"The man has not yet been formally identified. Police will not be in a positive to release details until this has been completed.

"The post mortem is examination will take place in due course to establish a cause of death and the police are preparing files for the coroner."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they had been assisting the police with an incident.