Police have appealed for more information about Charlie Saywell’s death (Picture: Kent Police)
Police are appealing for information about a soldier who was found dead in a river after a night out with friends.
The body of Charlie Saywell, 25, was recovered from the River Medway near Chatham yesterday morning.
On Monday evening, Charlie had been socialising with friends before taking a taxi to his home in Brompton – but police believe instead of heading home immediately, he went for a walk into Chatham town centre between 12.10am and 2.40am.
Kent Police said: ‘He may have mistakenly got into an unidentified car nearby, where it is reported he was assaulted by the driver and suffered facial injuries.’
Detective Sergeant Karen Caulfield said: ‘While we do not have specific information about where Charlie went between 12.10am and 2.40am, he had a phone conversation before his death which indicated he may have suffered an assault in the town during that period.
Charlie’s friend Joe (on left) has since started a GoFundMe for his funeral costs (Picture: GoFundMe)
‘We are appealing to anyone who may have seen Charlie walking in the Gillingham and Chatham areas during these times.
‘We are particularly keen to hear from anybody who saw him in a fast-food outlet or involved in an altercation in or near to a car.
’At this stage we are not treating Charlie’s death as suspicious, however, it is important we understand where he visited and what happened to him prior to his tragic death.’
Charlie’s mum, Victoria Brown, has also pleaded for more information: ‘If you have witnessed my son Charlie’s movement during the early hours of that morning and can offer any information, however small, please can you contact Kent Police so our family can have some answers about what happened to him.’
A GoFundMe has been started by Charlie’s friend Joe to help raise money for funeral costs.
Joe said: ‘For those of you that wasn’t lucky enough to meet or know our Charlie, he was a gentle giant.
‘He was a huge role model and a massive part of my life… we would appreciate anything to go towards an upmost respectful funeral as it is the very least that boy deserves.’
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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