Melksham man dies after being pulled from the river

WILTSHIRE police are appealing for witnesses and information after a local man was pulled from the River Avon in Melksham on the afternoon of Tuesday 14th October and died a short time later.

Nigel Clive Boodle from Chiltern Close, aged in his 70s, is believed to have gone missing from his home address earlier that afternoon.

Police were called shortly after 3.15pm to reports of a body in the river, close to a location known as Melksham Gate, behind Sainsbury’s.

Officers and ambulance staff attended and pulled the Melksham man from the water. He was treated at the riverside before being taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Nigel Boodle’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is now being prepared for HM Coroner for Swindon and Wiltshire for inquest proceedings to begin.

Reports state that he was seen near to Tower Road, which is close to home, with blood on his face before walking through town and then being discovered in the river.

At this early stage there is no information to suggest that a crime has taken place and the death is being treated as unexplained.

He is described as very tall and thin with straggly longish grey hair and a grey beard. He was wearing brown trousers, a navy blue zip up anorak and wore glasses. His glasses have since been found on the ground near to the junction of Tower Road and Blackmore Road.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen him near this location between approximately 2.45pm and 3.15pm and in particular they are keen to establish how his head injury was caused. They would also like to hear from anyone who saw him walk towards and near the river between the same times.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if they wish.