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Headless body found washed up on Blackpool beach

A local fisherman found the body two miles north of Blackpool Tower

Alexandra Sims
Monday 17 August 2015 09:58 BST
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Michael Cartwright, 60, found the body at the sea wall in Bispham, two miles north of the famous Blackpool Tower
Michael Cartwright, 60, found the body at the sea wall in Bispham, two miles north of the famous Blackpool Tower (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A headless body has been found washed up on Blackpool beach by a local fisherman.

Michael Cartwright, 60, found the body at the sea wall in Bispham, two miles north of Blackpool Tower.

Police were called to the incident at around 8:45 on Sunday morning.

Cartwright told the Blackpool Gazette: “It was like a torso. I am not sure if it was male or female. I spotted it and asked a young lady to call the police.”

According to Cartwright four police cars, two police vans and detectives attended the incident. Coastguards were also present.

Cartwright, who lives in Blackpool and was fishing from the shore when he made the grisly find, said that a dog-walker also helped him.

“We did not want any children going past to see it, or for any dogs to go near the body,” he added.

According to eye-witnesses, police and coastguards removed the body before the incoming tide was able to wash it back out to sea.

A black van which was presumed to be a private ambulance arrived to the scene to take the body away, according to reports.

Detective Constable Emma Shuttleworth of Blackpool CID said: “A body has been found on the beach near Bispham. It was found by members of the public.”

Police have said they are unable to identify the body and have no more information at this time.

Investigations are continuing.

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