A MAN found dead floating in the River Thames in Oxford could have accidentally fallen in the water after drinking earlier in the day, police said today.
Andrew Swadling, of Marlborough Road, in Grandpont, was found dead in the river shortly before noon on Wednesday, May 12, after a passer-by spotted a body under Folly Bridge.
Police said they had found the spot where they think Mr Swadling fell in and said there was nothing to suggest foul play.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Paine, of the Oxford priority crime team, said: “At this stage the indications are that his death was a tragic accident.
“He may have fallen into the river having been drinking earlier in the day and then been unable to get himself out again.
“I believe we have identified the site where he entered the water at the bottom of a set of steps near Folly Bridge.
“There's nothing to suggest that there was any foul play, but I'm continuing to treat his death as unexplained until every line of inquiry has been completed.”
Mr Swadling’s fiancee Susan Williams paid tribute to her “best friend” and said he was the only person who made her feel safe.
Miss Williams, who had known Mr Swadling for 14 years, and been in a relationship for six years, said: “We were going to get married. He gave me a ring; we didn’t know when we would get married, but we were talking about it.
“I was planning to get my surname changed to Andrew’s surname.”
Mr Swadling, who went to Northfield School in Blackbird Leys, was father to four children – Jamie, Jordan, Junior and Jayden.
He spent several years battling drug and alcohol addiction, and in 2008, he was given an antisocial behaviour order for four years banning him from begging anywhere in England and Wales or using threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour.
Miss Williams, 35, said: “We were like best friends as well as being girlfriend and boyfriend.
“He was the only one I turned to for help. I have got no-one to turn to now.”
She added: “I just feel empty, I do not know what to do with myself. I have my family around me but without Andrew it does not feel right.
“It's hard, because I have been with him for so long. He's the only one who makes me feel safe.”
Mr Paine thanked the public for coming forward with information and appealed to anyone who may have been in the area at the time.
He said: “We have been able to trace his movements through the city centre with the help of witnesses and CCTV, however, we have less evidence as to what happened from 11.25am until 11.50am on Wednesday, May 12.
“He was white, 35 years old, has dark brown hair and a small, dark goatee beard. He was wearing a blue tracksuit, red top and black trainers.
“If anyone saw him, I would encourage them to contact me.”
Anyone with information should call Oxford police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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