Body of soldier, 25, present in a river following evening out with mates

The physique of a soldier has been present in a river following an evening out with mates, with police investigating whether or not he was assaulted by a driver after getting right into a automotive by mistake. 

Sapper Charlie Saywell, 25, of the Royal Engineers, has been confirmed useless after his physique was recovered from the River Medway in Chatham, Kent, on Tuesday final week.

He had been out with mates throughout the earlier night earlier than taking an area taxi again to Brompton Barracks in close by Gillingham.

But as an alternative of going into the military camp it’s thought he selected to take a stroll into Chatham city centre between 12.10am and a couple of.40am.

Now police try to piece collectively his actions to establish the places he visited within the Medway Towns.

Police are investigating the loss of life of Charlie Saywell after he was discovered within the River Medway

The 25-year-old’s physique was discovered within the water close to Main Gate Road in Chatham, Kent

Officers perceive Charlie walked previous Primark in Chatham High Street earlier than he visited a quick meals outlet.

But Kent Police say he could have mistakenly received into an unidentified automotive close by, the place it’s reported he was assaulted by the motive force and suffered facial accidents.

Det Sgt Karen Caulfield mentioned: ‘While we don’t have particular details about the place Charlie went between 12.10am and a couple of.40am, he had a telephone dialog earlier than his loss of life which indicated he could have suffered an assault within the city throughout that interval.

‘We are interesting to anybody who could have seen Charlie strolling within the Gillingham and Chatham areas throughout these occasions.

‘We are notably eager to listen to from anyone who noticed him in a fast-food outlet or concerned in an altercation in or close to to a automotive.

‘At this stage we aren’t treating Charlie’s loss of life as suspicious, nonetheless, it will be important we perceive the place he visited and what occurred to him previous to his tragic loss of life.’

Mr Saywell was final seen carrying a darkish navy colored quick sleeved t-shirt, khaki colored cargo trousers and white trainers.

It is known his regiment was usually based mostly at Gibraltar.

Charlie’s mom Victoria Brown has now made an emotional attraction for anybody with info to return ahead.

She mentioned: ‘If you’ve witnessed my son Charlie’s motion throughout the early hours of that morning and may supply any info, nonetheless small, please are you able to contact Kent Police so our household can have some solutions about what occurred to him.’ 

A pal has arrange a GoFundMe web page to assist elevate cash for the solder’s household and it has already reached £1,800.

The man who started the attraction, named Joe, mentioned on the web page: ‘For these of you that wasn’t fortunate sufficient to fulfill or know our Charlie, he was a mild big. He was an enormous function mannequin and an enormous a part of my life.

‘I appeared as much as Charlie each bodily and mentally and he sadly handed away not too long ago on the age of 25.

‘I do know there will likely be lots of people attending the service and would recognize something to go in the direction of an upmost respectful funeral as it’s the very least that boy deserves.’

Anyone with info is requested to name the Kent Police attraction line on 01634 792209, quoting reference 46/36226/24.

Police have additionally requested drivers with dashcam and residents or companies with non-public CCTV to examine for related footage.