Two found dead on canal boat
A police investigation was under way today after the bodies of a man, a woman and a dog were found in a boat on a canal near Newport. A police investigation was under way today after the bodies of a man, a woman and a dog were found in a boat on a canal near Newport. The grim discovery was made at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal shortly before noon yesterday. Police are treating the deaths as unexplained and said post mortem examinations were due to be carried out this afternoon. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Police are treating the deaths as unexplained and said post mortem examinations were due to be carried out this afternoon.
The man was named by workers at Norbury Wharf boatyard as Michael Tudor. He was aged 46 and was known in the area and the boating community as "Mick".
The woman was named only as Karen and is believed to be 42.
It is believed he lived on the cruiser-type boat called the Drunken Duck, travelled around the area on the canal system, and stopped at Norbury Junction, near Gnosall, every few days.
People in the area said the boat had been at the mooring, outside The Junction pub, for at least a week.
It was suggested the bodies could have gone undiscovered for several days.
Signwriter Trevor Counsell, who works at the boatyard, said Mr Tudor came originally from Liverpool, and suggested the cause of the deaths was carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty heater.
He added: "It's a terrible thing to have happened. I've known him about 20 years. He used to turn up every so often, sometimes just passing through.
"He used to come in the pub now and again. He introduced me to his girlfriend, Karen, just last week.
"It seems likely to have been carbon monoxide poisoning, from a gas heater or something. I noticed there wasn't much ventilation on that boat."
Angela Ward, a member of staff at the boatyard shop, said a man came into the fuelling station and supplies shop to report the find.
She said: "He was in quite a state. He said, 'I've just found my friends dead.' I don't know who he was."
Neil Spencer,of Staffordshire Police, urged witnesses to call police on 08453 302010 quoting reference number 326 of 28 March.
By Dave West
