Body found in river by divers confirmed to be Gaynor Lord
The body found in a river during the search of a missing woman has been confirmed to be Gaynor Lord.
The mother-of-three went missing a week ago and on the morning of 15 December, her body was found in the River Wensum.
Specialist divers were searching for the 55-year-old in the river in Norwich.
Advert
Norfolk Police confirmed a body was found in the river by underwater search teams and Lord’s family were informed.
Officers previously said they believe there is a ‘high probability’ the missing mum went into the river.
Norwich Police included in a statement today (18 December): "Police can confirm the body of woman found in the River Wensum in Norwich on Friday has been formally identified as Gaynor Lord.
"Gaynor went missing on Friday 8 December; she’d left work early and later that evening her belongings were discovered in Wensum Park.
"Extensive searches took place last week and on Friday morning (15 December) specialist underwater teams discovered Gaynor’s body.
"A Home Office post-mortem examination carried out on Saturday (16 December) found no indications of any third-party involvement and the death is not being treated as suspicious. While the Home Office Pathologist awaits the results of the toxicology before formally confirming cause of death, early indications are consistent with drowning.
"Gaynor was formally identified yesterday (17 December), subject to formal inquest proceedings taking place.
"Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gaynor’s disappearance and a file is being prepared for the coroner."
The retail assistant first disappeared on 8 December and was last seen leaving her workplace, Jarrolds department store, just before 3pm – over an hour before her shift actually ended.
Lord was seen rushing across the city centre, carrying her coat and handbag while walking up London Street before crossing Queen Street and heading to Norwich Cathedral.
The last image of her was taken at 4.01pm as she walked down St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street before heading down St Augustines Street.
Later that night, a passer-by came across some of the mum’s belongings in Wensum Park and reported it to the police. The park is over a mile away from the department store.
Police confirmed that they had found her two rings, a pair of glasses, a phone and a white vest top at 'various locations' in the nearby park.
Her coat was then recovered in River Wensum, leading to a search of the area for Lord. A search boat then went out on the water on 15 December.
It is reported that police were seen recovering something in a large black bag at about midday.
A friend of Lord told the BBC that the mum seemed ‘upbeat and happy’, chatting about Christmas only a few days before she went missing.
Jess Battison