Body found in River Foss was that of 20-year-old York man, say police

North Yorkshire Police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Officers first searched the Foss off Fossgate and Piccadilly after receiving a call at 11.40pm on Wednesday reporting a person in distress in the river. 

Divers from the Yorkshire Underwater Search Team spent much of Thursday at the scene. 

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said on Thursday afternoon: “We can confirm the underwater search unit have recovered the body of man from the River Foss.

"We are not yet in a position to identify the man.”

Earlier on Thursday, a North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman had said: “Police received a call from a member of the public at around 11.40pm yesterday reporting that they believed there was a man in the River Foss near Merchant Hall in the Piccadilly area of York.

“Searches were conducted of the river and the bank, with the assistance of the fire service, for several hours overnight."

A police helicopter was called to assist in the search of the river at the time and helped to provide illumination as the search went on.

A police boat arrived in Merchantgate shortly before 11am on Thursday to assist with the search (pictured below).

The York Rescue Boat team offered its support if necessary.

Ben Whitfield, 31, from Fossgate, said he saw some of the search on Wednesday night. He said: "I saw a lot of flashing blue lights and went out to see what was going on. There was a big search and about four or five police vans and police searching both bridges.

"They called out the helicopter and I heard police dogs." 

A police diving team entered the water via a ladder after the netting was removed by Savills estate agents (pictured below). 

There was a heavy police presence by the Foss at Piccadilly and officers could be seen searching the banks on foot.  

The bridge and nearby pavement and the gardens of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall were taped off.