DETECTIVES have taken a step closer in solving the case of a mystery man found floating in a remote Welsh reservoir.
Claerwen Reservoir is the largest and most remote of the Elan Valley dams in Powys – but around 55 people die in inland waters in Wales each year.
After someone spotted the floating body last October, Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the scene.
There they found a highly decomposed person in a £200 extra large wetsuit with no belongings, clothes or car.
It’s thought the body could have been undiscovered for up to twelve weeks.
But now a post-mortem examination has confirmed the sex, age, race, height and weight of the person.
Senior investigating officer, detective inspector Anthea Ponting, told The Sun today: “A post-mortem examination has confirmed that the body is a white man, aged between 30 and 60.
“He is approximately 6ft tall and was wearing a Zone 3 Agile wetsuit, similar to the one pictured.
“The size of the wetsuit is XL, so the man might have been 6ft – 6ft5, around 202-220lbs with a 44–48-inch chest.
But despite such details being recovered, the identity of the man remains unknown.
DI Ponting added: “We have carried out numerous inquiries, including checking missing people records with other forces and conducting forensic inquiries both locally and wider in conjunction with law enforcement partners.
“Unfortunately, these have not led to the man being identified.
“We are keeping an open mind into the circumstances and continue to work towards finding out who he was, any family and what happened to him.
“We would still like to hear from anyone who has visited the Claerwen reservoir, or the surrounding area, between the beginning of July 2024 and October 18, and hasn’t spoken to police yet.
“We also continue to appeal for anyone who does have information – who thinks that something mentioned could relate to a missing person in their own life or who they may know – to come forward.”
But the DI also revealed to the BBC that it “is an unusual situation to be three or four months down the line” and to not have identified the person or their loved ones.
However, they do not believe criminal activity is involved.
Alan Austin, who chairs a local rambling group and regularly walks in the area, told the BBC he has “never” seen anyone swimming in the water of Claerwen Reservoir.
He added: “It can be extremely dangerous.
“The water can get very cold, water from the reservoir pours over the dams when it’s been raining.”
The Claerwen dam and reservoir were featured in the final series of the BBC show Top Gear with Richard Hammond.
