British Soldier, 25, Found in River with Rope Wrapped Around His Body Died in Accident After Drunken Night Out, Coroner Rules

A soldier found dead in a river with a rope wrapped around his legs and torso died as a result of an accident, an inquest has concluded. Charlie Saywell, 25, was discovered in the River Medway near Chatham, Kent, on March 5.

The inquest in Maidstone, Kent, revealed that Saywell’s death followed a night of drinking with friends. After consuming a “reasonable amount” of alcohol, his friends had arranged for him to return to Brompton Barracks by taxi.

However, he opted to walk back into Chatham and contacted his girlfriend several times, during which she described him as being “very drunk.”

The incident occurred when Saywell encountered a stranger outside a pizza shop. The driver of the car attempted to remove Saywell, who had reportedly become injured during the confrontation. The driver kicked out and possibly threw a punch, leading to Saywell sustaining a swollen eye, according to his girlfriend.

Mr Saywell (right) tied a rope around his legs and torso in an attempt to get out of the water (Picture: GoFundMe)

The precise details of Saywell’s movements after this encounter remain unclear, but he was later found in the river. The inquest heard that the rope tied around his body might have been used as a makeshift safety aid, possibly in an attempt to climb to safety.

Sapper Charlie Saywell, 25 (pictured), is said to have died after an accident. He had been out drinking beforehand.

Assistant Coroner James Dillon stated, “It seems likely that he fell from the wall and landed on a pontoon below, causing further injuries. Unable to extricate himself from the river, he succumbed to injury and exhaustion.”

Detective Sergeant Karen Caulfield confirmed that the rope, which resembled an abseiling harness, was likely used to aid his attempt to escape from the water. She noted that Saywell had a broken tooth and facial injuries from the earlier incident but had sustained additional injuries later.

Caulfield also reported that no further action would be taken against the suspect involved in the confrontation, as self-defence was deemed plausible. She concluded that there was no evidence of foul play and that Saywell’s death was attributed to drowning and injuries sustained from the fall.

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