A YOUNG man whose body was found floating in a Suffolk river which is a popular swimming spot may have drowned in a tragic accident.The body was discovered by a woman in the River Waveney, near Outney fishing lakes, at Bungay yesterday.

A YOUNG man whose body was found floating in a Suffolk river which is a popular swimming spot may have drowned in a tragic accident.

The body was discovered by a woman in the River Waveney, near Outney fishing lakes, at Bungay yesterday.

Police were called to the scene shortly after 9.30am and were assisted by Inland Search and Rescue and South Broads Rescue.

Last night, officers said the death was being treated as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.

The male victim, who was wearing swimming shorts and is thought to be in his 20s or 30s, was retrieved from the water by the RNLI at about 11.30am.

Police also discovered clothing in a bag, which has since been recovered from the riverbank.

Officers were yesterday trying to identify the man, who is believed to come from south Norfolk. A post mortem examination will take place today .

They temporarily cordoned off a car park and footpath leading to the lakes while an examination of the scene was carried out.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said: "At this stage, as is standard procedure, the death is being treated as unexplained, and the coroner is being informed."

The section of river where the body was found lies at the bottom of a dirt track and wooded area, just off the A143 in Bungay.

An overgrown footpath leads to two small stone footbridges over separate areas of the river, which is surrounded by miles of fields containing cows.

The site is extremely popular with swimmers, with many local children and their parents enjoying a dip. Somebody has even tied a rope to a tree branch so people can swing into the river.

Once the police cordon had been taken down yesterday afternoon, a mother sat on the bank as her two children played in water in their swimming costumes.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "I've been coming here since I was three. Locally, we've always called it Sandy."

Dave Gladwell, vice president of Bungay Cherry Tree Angling Club, said a homeowner living close to the river saw police cordon off the fishing area, asking one person to leave.

"The footpaths are public but the land belongs to common owners. Swimming is very popular," he added.