Post-mortem examination today on body found in reservoir

Friday 05 August 2016

A Home Office pathologist arrives today to examine a body found partially submerged in Handois Reservoir, not far from where missing Jerseyman Adrian Lynch was last seen alive.

Jersey Water staff found the body whilst conducting routine maintenance work yesterday morning, and the Police confirmed Adrian's passport was in a jacket pocket. The 20-year-old was reported missing eight months ago, and despite a massive search, only his phone, wallet and belt had been found.

On Friday 4^th December last year Mr Lynch had been at a works Christmas party in town and just before midnight caught a taxi home to near Carrefour Selous. A number of people who later saw him wandering the lanes say he appeared to be confused and disorientated.

In the months following his disappearance police carried out an extensive search of the area. Households were leafleted, appeals made in the media, divers and special dogs brought over from the United Kingdom, and a reward offered.

Because of the scale of the search and the apparent lack of results Mr Lynch’s disappearance soon sparked a number of wild theories. Some people speculated he’d been the victim of a hit and run, and his body had been dumped at sea. Others that he’d been deliberately killed. The Police always maintained his disappearance had most likely been an accident.

Today, that seems the most likely outcome, although Police state they are still keeping an open mind. At a press conference a matter of hours after the body had been found , Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull gave his reaction: “We’ve always maintained a stance that in all probability this was a sad and tragic event of misadventure. We know Adrian had been on a works do. He’d been drinking. He’d been seen or heard on 18 occasions I think it was between midnight and 2:30 that morning. And various parties described him as quite vocal and disorientated. There is no vindication today, today is a very sad day, and of course our thoughts are with the family.”

Jersey Water staff found the partially submerged remains of a body while conducting routine maintenance at the reservoir at about 10:00, and alerted the police and other emergency service. The area was sealed off and a search carried out.

As soon as the discovery was made police informed Mr Lynch’s family, and they’ve been offered specialist counselling services.