Police renew appeal to identify man found dead in Powys reservoir

Dyfed-Powys Police has renewed its appeal for information to identify a man whose body was found in an Ealn Valley reservoir two years ago.

The man was discovered by a dog walker at Claerwen Reservoir on October 17, 2024 and is believed to have been in the water for up to 12 weeks.

An investigation led by Powys CID has exhausted all reasonable and proportionate lines of enquiry to date, but the man’s identity remains unknown.

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.”

Officers have appealed to the public several times and reviewed information received, but none of the enquiries has established the man’s identity.

The man was wearing a black extra large Zone 3 Agile wetsuit when he was found. Initial enquiries suggested he was aged between 30 and 60, around 6ft (1.83m) tall and weighed between 202lbs and 220lbs (91.5kg to 99.5kg). He was described as being of white European descent.

Facial reconstruction work identified protruding teeth, a left-sided cross bite, a rounded chin, a square jawline and a downturned nose.

He had no distinguishable marks, such as scars or tattoos. No other clothing, jewellery or means of transport was found in the area.

Despite previous appeals reaching significant numbers of people in the UK and overseas, DI Ponting hopes the renewed appeal will reach someone who recognises the man or remembers something relevant.

“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.

“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 could help, or knows someone who has been missing for some time and matches the description, is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Information can be submitted through the police public portal, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or through crimestoppers-uk.org