The body of a homeless man was pulled out of the water at a popular High Wycombe park after being discovered by a family who were enjoying the half term break, an inquest heard this week.

The Rye was busy with dog walkers and families who were enjoying the sunshine on February 21 this year when the body of Peter Dove, 49, was discovered in The Dyke.

Theresa Glazier, who was visiting the park with her mum and her grandchildren made the gruesome discovery at around 2pm.

Mr Dove’s body is the fourth to have been pulled out of The Dyke in as many years.

An inquest into Mr Dove’s death, held at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court on Wednesday afternoon, heard that he had no job or address at the time of his death.

DC Alex Trevivian from Thames Valley Police said that the “secluded” area close to where Mr Dove’s body was found is a popular place for the town’s homeless population to sleep because it is “safer” than sleeping in the town centre.

However, it is not clear how Mr Dove came to be in the water. His possessions – a black rucksack and a Tesco bag for life – were on the bank of the river and his sleeping bag was found in the water.

DC Trevivian said: “No one had seen him there before he died. There was no CCTV from the boat house café because it wasn’t working at the time. We had been unable to detail his whereabouts for a few days before his death.

“In his possessions were items that suggested drug use, including needles and information leaflets about drug rehabilitation.”

In a statement, Mrs Glazier told how her family had been at the play area at The Rye but one of her grandson’s needed changing, so they had gone to a quieter, shaded area at the back of The Dyke.

She said: “I saw there were bags on the river bank but I didn’t think anything of it. We went back to the park but we had left a scooter there so I went back to get it.

“I looked into the lake and saw what I thought were some rags – but then I saw some hands and a head. I shouted to my mum, saying there’s a body in the water. I didn’t quite believe what was happening.

“I got her to have a look and called the kids away from the bank while my mum called police.”

A post-mortem found that Mr Dove died as a result of drowning and alcohol intoxication and had taken cocaine and heroin at some point before he had died.

Crispin Butler, senior coroner, recorded an open conclusion into Mr Dove’s death, saying he could not determine how Mr Dove had come to be in the water.

He said: “Although he was intoxicated he died as a result of drowning. He was found sadly deceased and there were no lifesaving opportunities.

“It cannot be ascertained if this was intentional or accidental. It is impossible to tell if he rolled into the water while intoxicated or if the alcohol gave him confidence to go into the water.”

Three other people sadly died in The Dyke in as many years. 

The body of 30-year-old Barry Ward from Marlow Bottom was discovered in The Dyke in front of horrified families during half term on October 27, 2015.

On April 25, 2017, the body of Daniel Howard-Prince, from Broad Street in Chesham, was recovered from The Dyke.

And a dog walker discovered the body of Mohammed Sarfraz Akhtar, 46, in the water on February 21, 2018.