Man found dead in Cleethorpes Boating Lake was hospital consultant

Emergency services have been involved in an operation off Cleethorpes since about 05:50 BST on Wednesday

A hospital chief has paid tribute to a "much-respected" doctor whose body was found earlier in a lake.

Consultant Dr Kevin Speed spent almost four decades at hospitals run by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

Shaun Stacey, the trust's interim chief executive, said the organisation was "deeply saddened".

The 72-year-old's body was discovered at Cleethorpes Boating Lake at about 09:00 BST following a large search.

Mr Stacey said: "Dr Kevin Speed was a well-known and much respected colleague, friend and clinician here at our hospitals for nearly four decades.

"I know many of our staff, as well as his patients - both former and present - will be deeply saddened by the sad news of his death.

"On behalf of myself, the trust board and all of our staff who had the privilege to work with Kevin, I would like to send our condolences to his family and loved ones at this difficult time."

Emergency services, including HM Coastguard and RNLI crews, had been searching for him in Cleethorpes since about 04:30 BST.

Humberside Police have not released the man's full name, only referring to him by his first name.

Det Insp Kerry Bull confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.

His family had been informed and was being supported, she said.

Dr Kevin Speed's body was found in Cleethorpes Boating Lake on Wednesday morning (File image)

Ms Bull thanked the public for supporting the search efforts.

The discovery at Cleethorpes Boating Lake comes days after a 15-year-old girl died off the same stretch of coastline.