A dog walker discovered the body of a man at Caen Hill Locks this morning (Monday).
Emergency services rushed to reports of a man, thought to be in his 60s, found hanged on a bridge at the popular tourist site in Devizes shortly after 7am.
It was initially believed the man’s body was pulled from the water but it can now be revealed that specialist firefighters helped recover the man’s body from the structure – which required them to enter the canal.
Police cordoned off the area to stop pedestrians from viewing the traumatic incident as 999 crews worked.
A source told Wiltshire 999s: “The dog walker who found him was absolutely horrified, they won’t get over that.”
Adding: “He was a lovely man with a heart of gold. He will be missed by so many people.”
Several fire appliances, including specially-trained water rescue firefighters from Stratton St Margaret Fire Station in Swindon, were in attendance.
A Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) Incident Response Unit from Bristol was tasked with the incident alongside several local ambulance personnel.
Shortly before 9.30am, the deceased was taken into a waiting ambulance before being transferred into a private ambulance around 15 minutes later.
Wiltshire Police confirmed that the man’s death is being treated as “non-suspicious”.
A spokesperson said: “[Our] thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
