Dead man pulled from Doncaster floodwaters named

Doncaster assistant coroner Louise Slater identified the man, whose body was found in the water at Fordstead Lane, Barnby Dun, as 54-year-old David Haslam.

Firecrews had to help police pull his body from the water after it was found, on Saturday November 23.

Investigations are still ongoing to find out how Mr Haslam died, but police say it is not being treated as suspicious.

Opening an inquest at Doncaster Coroners Court, assistant coroner Louise Slater said: “The matter was first raised to us on November 25, by PC Michael Turner, of South Yorkshire Police.

“The identification process has been carried out and the man identified as David Haslam, a man born on March 29, 1965, and aged 54 at the time of his death.

“His body was recovered on November 23 and the place was Fordstead Lane, Barnby Dun.

“Identification was carried out between Colin Haslam, the son of the deceased, who confirmed his father’s identity to South Yorkshire Police, in line with police procedures.

“At the time the deceased was found, it was within the area having severe difficulty due to the most recent flooding.

“South Yorkshire Police attended the flooded area of Fordstead Lane, which connects Arksey and Barnby Dun. But due to the level of the water, they needed to refer the matter to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for the deceased to be moved.”

She said scenes of crime officers attended the incident, but there was no suggestion that there was anything suspicious in the cause of death, and the police were happy for the case to proceed to an inquest, rather than a criminal investigation.

Results of a post mortem examination are not yet available, she added, and evidence into the cause and circumstances of the death was still being gathered.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish most sincere condolences to Mr Haslam’s friends and family for their loss in these circumstances,” she added.

Hundreds of people were flooded out of their homes and roads cut off after torrential rain led the River Don to overflow on November 7.