RESIDENTS have reacted with sadness after a man’s body was found at a bridge in Bournemouth.
Police were called to Alum Chine in West Overcliff Drive following reports that a man in his 20s had been found dead.
A cordon was put in place on the suspension bridge connecting Beaulieu Road and West Overcliff Drive, as well as the two public footpaths below.
Crime scene investigators from South West Police Forensics carried out an investigation of the area throughout Tuesday morning.
However, police have said the man's death is not being treated as suspicious.
Resident Amanda Saunders said it was “awful” a body had been discovered, adding: “It’s so sad and my thoughts are with the man’s family and friends – whatever has happened it’s a tragedy.”
“My husband went out this morning and saw four police cars outside at about eightish and they had all cordoned off the bridge.”
Alan Heasman, who lives next to the bridge, said: “We saw the police here at about 7 o’clock and since then there have been two police cars here continuously.
“An officer rang our doorbell at eightish to see if we had any CCTV – they wanted to find out what was happening.
Bader Alrashida said: “That’s horrible. I didn’t see anything – I've been living here for six months and I haven’t seen anything like this before. There are a lot of police here.”
One man, who had been working in Beaulieu Road to do building work, saw a lot of police at the entrance of the bridge.
He said: “It’s sad that it has happened. It’s a terrible thing to happen.”
A Dorset Police spokeswoman said: “Following enquiries, the death is not being treated as suspicious. HM Coroner has been notified and enquiries will continue on their behalf.
“The man’s family has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
Alum Chine suspension bridge is said to be where the former prime minister Winston Churchill had broken his arm when he was 18.
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