Man’s body found in holiday park lake after confrontation with police

Leon Stent from Hastings was thought to have been visiting friends at Coghurst Hall in Ivyhouse Lane when police were called around 11.20pm on Saturday.

Officers had received reports of a man who was being drunk and abusive.

Upon arrival, officers were involved in a search for a man, which resulted in a confrontation.

Sussex Police state the man ran away from officers and was subsequently seen in a lake at the holiday park.

Rother district policing commander, chief inspector Warren Franklin, said: “Officers and friends of the man encouraged him to come out of the water, but before he could do so he got into difficulties.

“Officers used boats to get onto the lake but could not find any trace of him.

“A large-scale search of the lake was launched by officers with other members of the emergency services as well as the surrounding area.

“Sadly, at around 3pm on Sunday (May 18), a body was found by divers from Sussex Police’s Specialist Search Unit.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.”

A post mortem will be held in due course and the matter has now been passed to the coroner.

Due to police contact with the man before his death, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed of the incident.