Mystery shrouds the washed-up body of a tattooed man allegedly found with £3,000 in his pocket, after it emerged the man is "extremely unlikely" to be a cockler.
The shaven-headed man, believed to be in his 40s, was found by a dog walker on Blackpool beach after being washed up opposite the Imperial Hotel in the suburb of North Shore early on Saturday morning. High tides the night before are thought to have left the body sprawled on the sand.
He was wearing a wedding band and had distinctive tattoos: one of a swallow on the base of the thumb of his right hand. On his right arm was a tattoo of a dagger or crucifix with a scroll around it. No one has yet come forward to formally identity the 6ft man, who was described as “white with blue eyes”. An e-fit picture has been released.
Initial reports suggested the man may have drowned in a cockling expedition. But a spokesperson for Lancashire constabulary told the Huffington Post UK there was nothing to suggest the man was a cockler. Media reports suggested the man was carrying up to £3,000. Police have confirmed that the man was found with money on him but did not confirm the amount. The cause of his death is still unknown.
Detective Inspector Becky Smith, from Blackpool CID, said:
"This man has got a relative who isn't aware of what has happened and it's obviously important that we inform them as soon as possible."
"We don't think he has been in the water a long time and if anyone recognises these features or anyone is concerned about someone who went out on Thursday night and didn't come home, please contact us."
Anyone with any information should contact Blackpool Police on 01253 293933.