Identity of mystery ‘grey man’ who’s ‘cleanly-shaven’ naked body washed up on tiny UK island STILL not known one year on
A MYSTERY man who was found washed up on a remote British island remains unidentified a year later.
The unknown man, who is thought to be between 50 and 60-years-old, was spotted on Roa Island, near Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria on April 30 2023.
Despite a year of international search operations, however, the man has still not been identified, an inquest has heard.
The man was found naked and said to be clean shaven with thinning grey hair, with no distinguishing marks or tattoos.
He is white and believed to be of European rather than UK or Irish origin, but it is unclear.
Cumbria Police said they were not treating his death as suspicious.
In a statement, detective inspector Laura Nield told the inquest that she attended the scene and conducted a search of the body in a nearby boathouse.
She concluded that the man “had not been in the water for a long time” because he wasn’t swollen and was found face down in the sand.
Abrasions on his chest and back were discovered, which are believed to have been caused by contact with the seabed.
DNA samples, fingerprints and dental impressions were obtained from his body and he was also scanned for for any metalwork but nothing was detected.
Several missing databases from countries such as the UK, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, Belgium, were checked, but no matches were found.
A forensic artist reproduced the man’s face to appeal for information, which was shared over a million times on Facebook.
Despite a number of names being offered up as possible identities for the man they were all eventually discounted.
The detective added that she wondered if the man had taken his own life but assistant coroner Robert Cohen argued there wasn’t enough evidence to support this theory.
A toxicology report showed no findings and a post-mortem examination revealed the man most likely died from drowning.
Due to the condition of the body and the “considerable” length of time since it was discovered a burial is expected to take place soon.
The case will remain with the Cumbria Police until the man can be identified and DNA and dental records will remain on file.
The assistant coroner said: “In essence, it is a sad situation that somebody has died, and despite the exhaustive attempts by Cumbria Constabulary, it has nor been possible to identify who they are.
“All we really know is that they were a white male between 50 and 60.
“They didn’t have any significant marks, their DNA is not on police systems, nor on the systems of a very large number of countries.
“Significantly, public enquiries have not revealed who they were, and that is very sad, and it is a matter of some sorrow that it has not been possible to identify who this man was.”
He recorded an open conclusion, and stated that the inquest can be re-listed if further information becomes available.