Tributes have been paid to a “well-liked” man who died after going into a river near a popular campsite busy with holidaymakers.
A man’s body was recovered from the River Waveney, near the Outney Meadow Caravan Park in Bungay, at about 12.30pm on Saturday.
Emergency services were called to the scene, where dozens on holidaymakers were, after a member of the public reported seeing a body in the water.
The man was taken out of the river near the A143 road bridge near Outney Meadow. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead.
Yesterday, police confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.
While the man has not been named by police, Colin Hancy, owner of the Outney Meadow camping and caravan site, said he was a well-known resident who had lived at the campsite for a number of years. Mr Hancy said he was in his 50s or 60s and although he “kept himself to himself” he was well-liked.
Paying tribute, he said: “It’s a shock to the system; what can you say?
“He was a well known and well-liked man. He lived here for a number of years, moved away and came back a couple of years ago.
“He kept himself to himself, but we are all dreadfully sorry.
“We’ve got about 10 residents living here and they all look after each other, keeping an eye out.”
Mr Hancy added that the man used to go walking, but not very far.
“You just don’t know what happened and you can’t speculate,” he said.
It is also believed he has a brother who he would sometimes visit.
A holidaymaker said police asked him if anyone staying at the site had gone missing “It’s very sad and our thoughts are with his friends and family, and his neighbours if he was a resident here,” said the man, on holiday with his wife and children.
The A143 around the bridge was closed by police during the incident.
Officers said the man’s death is currently being treated as unexplained.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said they were called at 12.42pm on Saturday.
“We dispatched the East Anglian Air Ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, ambulance and duty officer,” he said.
“Despite the best efforts of our crews in responding as quickly as they did, sadly the casualty died at the scene.”
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it sent a crew from Loddon, with the rescue boat sent to the scene at 12.38pm to assist.
A file on the man’s death is now being prepared for the coroner.
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