Man's body discovered floating at Leith Docks

POLICE have identified a man whose body was discovered by workers clearing rubbish at Leith Docks as Paul Dierikx.

Two horrified workmen found the body of the 51-year-old man, who had no fixed address, in the Water of Leith as they were removing debris that had gathered near the Victoria Bridge.

A specialist team of divers was called in to recover the body.

Police initially treated the death as "unexplained" and were unable to say how long the body had been in the water, but today confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

A manager at Dirty Work Clearances confirmed that two workers had stumbled upon the body as they were clearing up waste that had gathered in the "boom" area and had contacted police immediately. He said that the area where it had been found, opposite the bridge, was often clogged with rubbish and debris.

One woman who lives in a flat overlooking the water said: "It is a bit worrying. I saw all the police and divers this morning, but wasn't sure what was going on. I didn't hear any commotion that would suggest something sinister had happened."

A police spokesman said: "Police can now identify the man whose body was recovered from water at the Victoria Bridge in Leith yesterday. He is 51-year-old Paul Dierikx, of no fixed address.

"There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal."

It is not the first time a grim discovery has been made in the river.

In June 2007 the body of architect David Hopps was pulled from the Water of Leith. He had been missing for a month and it was believed he had been depressed.

In July 2003, a suitcase dragged from the water was found to have a body stuffed inside it.

The victim was later identified as Timmy Wallace, 24, who had been battered to death at the Dunedin Harbour homeless hostel in Leith.

His body was left in the bag under a bed as drug parties took place, before being thrown from a bridge into the Water of Leith.

Local councillor Gordon Munro said the latest discovery – made at around 9.40am yesterday – was a "sad" one.