A BODY was recovered from the River Ouse in the centre of York on Sunday afternoon.

Officers from the Northumbria Police Marine Unit found the body near Ouse Bridge at 2.45pm and recovered it at 4.25pm.

Police were called at 3.15am on Sunday morning when a man, who is believed to be aged in his late teens to early 20s, went into the river from above the middle arch on Ouse Bridge. 

Onlookers threw a life belt at the man, however, North Yorkshire Police said he was unable to swim to safety and a rescue effort was launched.

He was described as having short hair and wearing a red T shirt and blue jeans.

Inspector Dave Hunter, of the York Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is clearly a very tragic incident and it is important that the man’s family receive specialist police support at this difficult time. We ask that people show the family respect and allow them to grieve in private.

“We realise the emergency response to this incident has caused a great deal of disruption during a busy day York. We thank people and nearby businesses for their continued patience and support during the operation, particularly those who have provided vital information to assist police enquiries.”

A crew from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue resumed a search in the water underneath and around Ouse Bridge at 9.30am.

York Rescue Boat also joined the search at 10.30am along with police conducting riverbank searches

Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident reference NYP-10072016-0098.