‘I was in shock’ - Waitress describes moment she discovered body of a man floating face down in River Wensum in Norwich

Katy Hull, who found the body in the River Wensum. (Image: Archant)

Katy Hull had been walking along Quay Side, near Fye Bridge, when she spotted an object in the water this afternoon.

Her partner initially thought it could be a mannequin, but on closer inspection the pair realised it was a man.

The 35-year-old, from Norwich, immediately phoned police just after midday and an operation was launched to try and recover the body.

A police spokesman said an investigation was currently underway to determine how the man died.

Police close the car park at Jarrolds Bridge as work begins to recover a body from the River Wensum. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

'I was just shocked when I saw it,' Miss Hull said. 'We had gone for a stroll and to do some shopping, but then we saw a corpse in the river.

'I said to my partner 'that looks like a body', but he said 'are you sure it's not a mannequin'. We took a closer look, then called the police.'

Miss Hull, who had been following the Cow Tower Walk, said the man had been wearing jeans and a jumper.

Fire crews from Earlham, Carrow and Sprowston were called to the scene, along with the Swift Water Rescue Team.

Firefighters on Jarrolds Bridge as work begins to recover a body in the River Wensum. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

An inflatable RIB was launched and the body was eventually recovered at around 1pm further downstream at Jarrold Bridge.

Peter Rowe, station manager at Sprowston fire station, said around 15 firefighters were on scene.

The ambulance service sent a rapid response vehicle, ambulance crew, ambulance officer, and medical response car from the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

But the man, believed to be in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A map of the River Wensum showing where the body was recovered. (Image: Archant)

A police spokesman said: 'Officers were called at 12.05pm to the river near to Wensum Street. Upon arrival officers discovered a man aged in his 60s had sadly died.

'The death is currently being treated as unexplained and a police investigation into the circumstances is underway.'

Officers blocked off St Helens Wharf Car Park, near the Adam and Eve Pub, while the recovery took place.

Martin Stuchfield, 59, had been visiting the city from Cavendish in Suffolk.

He said: 'We came down here [to the car park] to get our car and police said we can't go in as they are dealing with a major incident. It has been an eventful end to the day.'

The car park has since re-opened to the public.

• Updates to follow