Wetsuit could solve mystery surrounding body found in reservoir

Wetsuit could solve mystery surrounding body found in reservoir

In the early morning of October 18, 2024, the police received Wales a call from a member of the public. This was the beginning of a mysterious case that remains unsolved four months later.

An unexpected find in the reservoir

The caller reported a body in the water of the Claerwen Reservoirs, according to a statement from Dyfed-Powys Police released on Sunday.

The reservoir is a remote and picturesque place in the central Wales, about 145 kilometers northwest of the capital Cardiff.

The investigation begins

An autopsy later revealed that the body found belonged to a white man between the ages of 30 and 60, about 6 feet tall and dressed in a wetsuit. The man had been in the water for up to 12 weeks.

Police identified the XL wetsuit as the Zone 3 brand “Agile” model, which is advertised on the manufacturer’s website as suitable for people “new to open water swimming or triathlon.”

The identity remains unclear

So far, police have released no further information about the man's identity and, despite extensive searches, have not found any personal belongings, a vehicle or a bicycle that he may have left on the banks of the reservoir, a police spokesman told CNN on Monday.

The nearest bus stop is about four hours' walk away, so it is "unlikely he went there in a wetsuit," the spokesman added.

No evidence of a crime

Several signs around the reservoir warn against swimming, and the spokesman noted: "It is very unusual for a body to be found and no confirmed identity after several months of investigation."

Inquiries to other police forces in the UK and to Interpol, as well as forensic tests, have so far yielded no clues to the man's identity. Still, the man's death is not considered "currently suspicious," it was announced at a hearing on Monday.

Public assistance is requested

The police are currently assuming that the man entered the water voluntarily last summer. Police are appealing to the public to provide information: “We are asking anyone who visited Claerwen Reservoir or the surrounding area between early July 2024 and October 18, 2024 and has not yet spoken to police to come forward,” said Detective Anthea Ponting.

“We also encourage anyone who has information or who thinks that something mentioned may be related to a missing person in their life or acquaintances to come forward,” she added.

The Claerwen reservoir is one of several in the region that provide water to Birmingham, the UK's second largest city. Swimming in these reservoirs is prohibited and can be dangerous due to the cold, deep water, which can also keep equipment hidden.