Police issue second anniversary appeal to identify man's body found in Powys reservoir

A renewed appeal has been issued for information to identify a man whose body was found in a Powys reservoir in October 2024.

On the second anniversary of the discovery of the body at Claerwen Reservoir in Powys, Dyfed Powys Police is urging anyone who could help establish who he is to come forward.

The man was reported to have been found by a dog walker on October 17, 2024.

He was wearing a black extra large Zone 3 Agile wetsuit, and it was estimated that he had been in the water for up to 12 weeks.

An investigation led by Powys CID has seen all reasonable and proportionate lines of enquiry carried out to date however the man’s identity remains a mystery.

Detective Inspector Anthea Ponting, who has led the investigation, said: “This is a highly unusual situation in that two years have passed and we are still no closer to knowing who this person is.

“We have contacted all UK police forces to conduct checks for missing or wanted people who had not been traced, we’ve run searches through the Police National Database, and issued bulletins to police overseas through Interpol.

“We have also searched DNA, fingerprint and dental records for potential matches, and worked with Face Lab at Liverpool John Moore University to create a digitised facial image in case this helped someone to recognise him.

“We have reached out to the public for information several times, and each time we’ve reviewed the information given to us, followed up contacts where further information is required to review, we have done this in the hope of being able to return him to his family or loved ones. Unfortunately, none have proven to be the key to finding out who this person is”

Initial enquiries gave officers a general idea of the man’s age, height and build as between 30 and 60 years old, around 6ft (1.83m), weighing between 202lbs and 220lbs (91.5kg - 99.5kg), and of white European descent.

The subsequent facial depiction work identified that he had protruding teeth and a left-sided cross bite, a rounded chin and square jawline, with a downturned nose.

He had no distinguishable marks such as scars or tattoos, and there were no other items of clothing, jewellery or modes of transport located in the area.

While previous public appeals have reached a significant number of people in the UK and overseas, DI Ponting hopes that two years on from the discovery the message might reach the right person.

“Someone must know who this man is,” she said. “Maybe you recognise him from the digital image, or maybe you visited Claerwen Reservoir and saw something that stands out in your mind – whatever it is, it might help to progress our enquiries.

“Our ultimate aim is to identify this man so we can return him to his family or loved ones so he can be laid to rest appropriately.

“Our appeal site remains open for submissions, so if you know something that might help and you haven’t already reported it, please consider getting in touch.

“Again, I’d like to thank everyone who has reached out over the past two years with information and assure that your report would have been considered and acted on where possible.”

Anyone who visited Claerwen Reservoir between July and October 18, 2024, and saw anything that might help enquiries, or are aware of someone who has not been seen for some time and matches the description above, contact Dyfed-Powys Police in one of the following ways online: Public Portal, via email: [email protected], call101

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.