The body of Charlie Saywell, a 25-year-old soldier described by friends as a “true role model,” was discovered in the River Medway near Chatham on Tuesday, March 5. A worker noticed his mud-covered body around 10:50 at Turks Shipyard. Emergency services, including police, paramedics, the fire service, and HM Coastguard, responded to the scene, but tragically, Mr. Saywell was already deceased.
The events leading up to Charlie’s death remain shrouded in mystery. On the evening prior to his demise, he had been socialising with friends before taking a taxi to his address in Brompton. However, instead of heading directly home, he embarked on a walk into Chatham town centre sometime between 00.10 and 02.40.
Phone records indicate that Charlie may have suffered an assault during that period. It is believed he got into an unidentified car, where he was allegedly assaulted by the driver, resulting in facial injuries. Detectives are appealing to anyone who witnessed Charlie’s movements in the Gillingham and Chatham areas during those crucial hours. Specifically, they are keen to hear from individuals who saw him in a fast-food outlet or involved in an altercation near a car.
Although Charlie’s death is not currently being treated as suspicious, authorities emphasise the importance of understanding his movements and the events leading up to his tragic demise. The inquest, presided over by Coroner Catherine Wood in Maidstone, determined that the cause of death was drowning, but it was marked by violence or unnatural circumstances.
A worker who discovered Mr. Saywell observed him with a rope around his torso and legs, adding to the intrigue surrounding this heartbreaking incident.
Charlie Saywell was last seen wearing a dark navy-coloured short-sleeved t-shirt, khaki-coloured cargo trousers, and white trainers. His mother, Victoria Brown, pleads for answers: “If you have witnessed my son Charlie’s movements during the early hours of that morning and can offer any information, however small, please contact Kent Police. Our family needs closure about what happened to him.”
