Police witness appeal after Burnley canal death tragedy

The 64-year-old, believed to be from Burnley, died after he was discovered in the water along a stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal this afternoon.

Police received a report a man had been found in the canal close to Ormerod Road behind the Queen Victoria pub around 12-15pm.

Two passing joggers pulled the man from the water and he was treated at the scene by the police and paramedics.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital but was pronounced dead at 1-40pm

Now officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward and help piece together what happened to the man who is believed to have been out walking his dog.

Inquires are underway to trace his next of kin and a post mortem examination will be carried out to establish how the man died.

Sgt Alisa Wilson, of Burnley Police, said: “This is a tragic incident and we need the public’s help to understand the circumstances of what happened and establish how he came to be in the water.

“From our initial inquiries we believe this gentleman has been walking his dog along the canal bank prior to entering the canal so I would appeal to anybody that has seen him to contact police.

“His dog was unharmed and was found at the side of the canal bank.

“Anyone with information should contact Lancashire Police on 101.”