The body of a missing 50-year-old man was recovered from Bristol Harbour weeks after Welsh police officer PC Rehaan Akhtar was found dead in the same waters in November
The body of a man who had been missing was discovered in the waters of Bristol Harbour, weeks after a Welsh police officer also tragically lost his life there. The grim discovery was made during the search for 50-year-old Matthew, who had been missing since Thursday, December 11, Avon and Somerset police have confirmed.
Matthew was last seen in the harbour area and had been missing for ten days prior to the discovery on December 15. Avon and Somerset police confirmed that a body had indeed been recovered from the water, reports Bristol Live.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police stated today: “The body was found in the water in the Harbourside area.” Officers have described the death as “unexplained, but not suspicious.”
The force expressed their sorrow, stating: “We are saddened to report that a body has been recovered during the search for missing 50-year-old Matthew.”
“While formal identification has not yet taken place, we have updated his next of kin and they are being offered support, and they remain in our thoughts during this difficult time.
“We are treating this death as unexplained, but not suspicious, and will be preparing a file for the coroner. We would like to thank the public for sharing our appeal.”
This tragic find comes less than a month after PC Rehaan Akhtar, hailing from Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, was found dead in the harbour following his disappearance during a night out in the city centre.
The body of the 28-year-old was retrieved from Bristol harbourside on the morning of Monday, November 24.
A post-mortem examination was conducted and the preliminary cause of death was recorded as drowning. Mr Akhtar, from Llanelli was a constable with South Wales Police. He first joined the force as a police community support officer (PCSO).
He was a PCSO in Cardiff from October 2021 and became a PC based in Swansea in September 2023.
In a statement, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said: “I was shocked and saddened to learn of Rehaan’s passing.
“At this difficult time, our hearts go out to Rehaan’s family and friends, and we will do all we can to support them.
“During his time with South Wales Police he served our communities with pride and professionalism as both a PCSO and a police officer.
“I know he was greatly respected and liked by his colleagues and those he met as part of his day-to-day duties.
“On behalf of South Wales Police, I offer our heartfelt condolences to all of those impacted by his passing.”
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