The body of a man in his 50s has been recovered from the River Itchen after a search by the Coastguard and Hampshire police.

On Thursday, May 23, residents living near to the Itchen River woke up to the sound of a Coastguard helicopter flying between the Northam Bridge and the Itchen Bridge.

A spokesperson for the Coastguard said on Thursday: "A search is being coordinated by HM Coastguard for a person in the water and has been ongoing near the Itchen Bridge this morning.

"This incident involves the Coastguard helicopter, Portsmouth and Hillhead Coastguard Rescue teams, Hamble Independent Lifeboat, Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue service."

Later on Thursday morning, new details emerged from Hampshire Police with the force confirming that a body had been located by the emergency teams.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We were called shortly before 4am on Thursday, May 23, to a report of the concern for the welfare of a man at the Northam bridge in Southampton.

"Police attended and carried out a thorough search of the surrounding area alongside our Coastguard colleagues.

"The body of a man in his 50s was located shortly before 7.30am. His death is being treated as unexplained and a file will be prepared for the coroner. His next of kin have been informed."

The helicopter was first spotted by residents at around 5am and the search concluded at around 7.30am after the man’s body was recovered.

A spokesperson for the fire service added: "Firefighters were called to assist the police at an incident at the River Itchen in Southampton around 4am this morning."

One resident said that the sound of the helicopter woke her up at her home in Sholing, Southampton.

The resident who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "The helicopter has been circling around the Itchen River since really early this morning. It was quite loud and it woke me up.

"I first heard it around 5.30am this morning. It has been circling the area and hovering above the water of a while now."