INVESTIGATIONS into the death of a man whose body was found in the River Ouse after he fled from police have been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The man in his 20's was the fourth person to have died in rivers around York in the last few weeks.

In the latest incident police were called in the early hours of Saturday April 20 to reports of suspicious activity in the Kings Staith area. A man ran off as they approached and went into the water, a search was immediately mounted by police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and York Rescue Boat staff. The body of a man was recovered from the river just after 3am. Ambulance staff provided medical assistance but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the death had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is usual in a case where someone dies after contact with the police. The man involved is understood to be from the Merseyside area.

@YorkRescueBoat tweeted:

"Sadly we can now confirm our team were in attendance at this incident.

Our teams thoughts are with the family."

The man is the fourth person to have died in the rivers in York over the last few weeks.