Body found in canal was missing Leicester pensioner Arthur

A body found in a canal last week was that of a pensioner who had been missing for more than six weeks, it has been confirmed.

Arthur Prosser's body was discovered by police divers in a stretch of the Grand Union Canal near Leicester City's Walkers Stadium last Wednesday.

Yesterday, an inquest into the 68-year-old's death was opened and adjourned at Leicester Town Hall.

Leicestershire police also confirmed his death – which remains unexplained – is not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Prosser's son Graham, who alerted police when his father went missing from the home they shared in Saxon Street, off Narborough Road, said the family had been comforted by messages of condolence from the public.

Graham, 35, said: "We had six weeks of not knowing what had happened to dad and wondering whether he was going to come home. Now, we know what happened to him and we know he is not coming home.

"The police have told me they are not treating dad's death as suspicious and I have to accept that."

A number of readers posted messages of support on the Mercury website last Thursday when the discovery was reported.

At that stage, police could only say they believed the body was that of Mr Prosser.

"I'd like to say 'thank you' to the people who left messages on the Mercury website. We took great comfort from people's kind comments," Graham said.

"We found it a big comfort to know people took the time to say they cared."

One of the messages, from Nathan, of Loughborough, was: "Desperately sad news.

"I've been hoping you'd get a positive outcome to this and send every best wish to you."

Another reader, Nick, said: "Sincere condolences to Mr Prosser's family at this sad and difficult time.

"The way they have conducted themselves throughout has been a credit to their father."

Police launched a missing person inquiry after Graham contacted them on Friday, December 3.

Over the next few weeks, officers carried out searches of land near the canal and the River Soar as Mr Prosser often went there to feed the ducks.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/12083fd9/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0CBody0Ecanal0Emissing0Epensioner0EArthur0Carticle0E31379940Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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