How did Surrey couple meet their deaths on the Norfolk Broads?

 
Bodies found after 13-year-old discovered alone on rented boat, Norfolk Broads, Britain - 02 Sep 2012
Rex features
4 September 2012

A man and woman found dead in a river after a police search were a couple in their 40s from the Surrey area, police have said.

Officers cordoned off a stretch of the River Bure between Wroxham Broad and Salhouse Broad, Norfolk, after a 13-year-old girl was found alone on a rented boat on Saturday.

They found the bodies of the couple in the river yesterday.

Officers are treating the deaths as unexplained but are not looking for anybody else in connection with the inquiry.

Detective Superintendent Jes Fry, of the joint Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team, who is overseeing the investigation, said: "We continue to investigate this tragic event.

"Our main consideration is the welfare of the 13-year-girl and whilst I cannot speculate on the circumstances surrounding the deaths before I have received the results of the post mortems, initial investigations confirm that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."

The woman is believed to be the girl's mother while the man was described as her partner.

The coroner has been informed and Home Office post-mortems are being carried out to establish the cause of death.

The search began after a member of the public realised a hire boat had not been returned.

Police later found the boat moored to a tree near Salhouse Little Broad. A 13-year-old girl who was discovered on board was unharmed.

The girl spent the evening in protective police custody and has been informed of the developments. She is currently being comforted by relatives.

The boat has been recovered and returned to a boat yard at Horning where it will be examined.

Specialist river police remained on the scene today and police tape prevented pleasure boats entering the shallow inlet where the boat was moored.

The area is an isolated spot with no official mooring. It is surrounded by forest and marsh with no foot access.

The deepest point of the river near the inlet is about 10ft and the area is largely clear of weeds and underwater obstacles.

Pleasure boats returned to the area this afternoon as tourism got back to normal.

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