Soldier found dead in river after reported assault

Charlie Saywell, 25, was found dead in the River Medway after a night out with friends

A soldier has been found dead in the River Medway in Kent.

The body of Charlie Saywell, 25, was discovered in the river near Main Gate Road, Chatham, at 10:46 GMT on 5 March.

Mr Saywell was with friends the previous evening. However, after leaving them, he may have mistakenly got into a stranger’s car, Kent Police said.

"He had a phone conversation before his death which indicated he may have suffered an assault," Det Sgt Karen Caulfield said.

Mr Saywell took a taxi to his address in Brompton after leaving his friends, but did not enter his accommodation, a police spokesperson said.

Instead, it is thought he walked to Chatham town centre between 00:10 and 02:40, during which time he passed Primark in the High Street, and visited a fast food outlet.

Phone call

He is then said to have entered a car and suffered injuries to his face, after being assaulted by the driver, Kent Police said.

"While we do not have specific information about where Charlie went between 00:10 and 02:40, he had a phone conversation before his death which indicated he may have suffered an assault in the town during that period," Det Sgt Karen Caulfield said.

"We are particularly keen to hear from anybody who saw Mr Saywell in a fast-food outlet or involved in an altercation in or near to a car.”

She added: "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."

Mr Saywell was last seen wearing a dark navy-coloured short-sleeved t-shirt, khaki coloured cargo trousers and white trainers.

Charlie’s mother, Victoria Brown, said: ‘If you witnessed my son’s movements 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.”