West Yorkshire Police have launched an inquiry after the body of a man was recovered from the River Aire in Leeds city centre on Thursday afternoon. Officers were called to East Street shortly after 4pm following a report from a member of the public that someone was in the water. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police seek public help to establish identity and circumstances
A force spokesperson said enquiries are under way to establish who the man is and the circumstances that led to his death. The incident is currently being treated as unexplained, and detectives are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
“We are conducting enquiries into the circumstances and are working to establish the man’s identity”
Police have provided a description of the deceased to support identification efforts. He is described as black, of a tall, muscular build, with short black dreadlock hair and a black beard. At the time he was wearing a khaki green Lacoste T-shirt and cargo shorts.
- Location: East Street, Leeds city centre
- Time reported: shortly after 4pm on 23 July
- Status: pronounced deceased at scene; death treated as unexplained
What the public should know
Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in or near East Street and the riverside between late afternoon and early evening on 23 July, who may have dashcam or mobile phone footage, or who recognises the clothing or physical description provided by police. Such information can be crucial in building a timeline and establishing identity.
| Detail | Information released |
|---|---|
| Reported time | Shortly after 4pm, 23 July |
| Location | East Street / River Aire, Leeds city centre |
| Description | Tall, muscular build; black; short black dreadlocks; black beard; khaki green Lacoste T-shirt; cargo shorts |
As enquiries continue, local residents may see an increased police presence in and around the city-centre riverside while teams conduct searches, gather CCTV and speak to potential witnesses. The force has not yet confirmed whether there will be a formal identification or a post-mortem in the coming days.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police using the non-emergency number 101, quoting the incident reference provided by the force, or to use the live web chat facility on the police website. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously.
The investigation remains ongoing and InfoRadar will update readers as further details are released by investigators.
