A MAN was killed after his car plunged into a Suffolk dock early on Saturday morning. Police divers recovered the 50-year-old man's body more than five hours after his Rover went into Lake Lothing near the A12 Bascule Bridge in Lowestoft just after midnight.

A MAN was killed after his car plunged into a Suffolk dock early on Saturday morning.

Police divers recovered the 50-year-old man's body more than five hours after his Rover went into Lake Lothing near the A12 Bascule Bridge in Lowestoft just after midnight.

Last night it was believed that man could have driven his white car into the dock on purpose.

The alarm was raised and lifeboat crews from Lowestoft and the South Broads Inshore boat were launched in an attempt to rescue the man.

Suffolk police were also called in to assist in the rescue at around 12.40am, and they also asked for help from Norfolk Police's diving team.

And shortly after 5.40am, the diving team recovered a body from the water. The man was taken to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, but was pronounced dead.

The car was pulled from the river several hours later and was inspected by police.

However, they are not treating the death as suspicious and are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination, which may be carried out today.

Suffolk Police spokeswoman Anne-Marie Breach said police are still investigating what happened and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

She added: "The vehicle was seen at the dockside shortly before it was driven off into the water," she said.

"It is believed the man was the only occupant of the car. At this stage police are not treating the death as suspicious."

She said that the body is that of local 50-year-old man, but he will not be named until formal identification has taken place.

No other details have been released about the man, however, he is known locally as Mario.

And Ms Breach denied stories that appeared in a national newspaper yesterday, which said the man's car was involved in a "chase" with two other cars.

Family and friends of the victim threw flowers into the dock hours after the incident, and last night several bunches of flowers hung from a metal fence near to the spot where the Rover went into the water.

They did not wish to speak to the media about the incident or the victim.

The car went into the water from private dockside land belonging to Associated British Ports.

Although the area of the dockside is private land belonging to ABP there is no barrier to prevent anyone from driving along the water's edge.

Anyone with any information about the incident or may have seen the car before it went into the water is asked to contact Lowestoft Police on 01986 835100.