Dorset Police are trying to find a boat crew that are believed to have vital information about the death of an elderly man after his body was discovered in the water at Hengistbury Head on 24 May 2015.

Officers are attempting to trace the boat’s owner and crew after they were seen at Mudeford Quay where the 70-year-old casualty first entered the water on 23 May 2015.

A member of the public discovered the man’s body around 9.30pm, with police believing the casualty had entered the water around 43 hours before. The police are keen to talk to the crew of the boat, which left Mudeford Quay at around 2am.

Police sergeant Tim Ward, said: “We believe that the craft was in the general area around the same time as the incident which resulted in a man’s body being discovered.

“I am hoping that whoever was on that boat may be able to provide us with vital information for the coroner’s inquest. This is a very tragic incident and any information we have may help to piece together exactly what happened. I would like to emphasise that this death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is being urged to contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 23:89.