UPDATED: USAR DEPLOYED TO ASSIST WITH DIFFICULT REMOVAL OF MAN’S BODY FROM SWANMORE HOME

Urban Search and Rescue teams from the mainland have been called in to assist Police with the removal of a man’s body from a property in Ryde. It was on Monday evening that the death of a man in his 50s prompted an investigation to be launched by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, who remain on scene more than 42 hours later. Earlier today specialist officers arrived on scene including a Police search advisor and forensic investigators. Now, as detectives continue to probe the unexplained death, attentions are turning to how best to remove the body from the residential address on Swanmore Road. Island Echo is told that the male was considered to be of bariatric size and may not have left the property in some time before his death. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has mobilised 2 of its specialist USAR trucks to the Island to assist with the operation. It’s thought to be only the 3rd time that USAR has been deployed to the Isle of Wight in the past 15 years. Firefighters’ skills will be put to use to create an egress point – this could involve removing windows, brick work and creating a wooden ramp structure – as well as ensuring the property is safe for working teams. Cordons have been established on Swanmore Road as fire crews prepare to action their plan, working alongside Police. The road remains open as normal at the time of publication. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary says that enquiries are ongoing to establish what happened as the death is currently being treated as unexplained. The force says that various teams are on scene to progress the enquiries and ensure that the site is safe. A road closure has now been put in place to give emergency services room to conduct their work. The closure is in force between Ratcliffe Avenue and Partlands Avenue. UPDATE @ 20:24 – The operation to remove the body from the property has been successfully completed tonight. A telehandler – acquired from a local contractor – was utilised to raise a specially built platform to the 1st floor level. It’s understood that the floor was shored up in the interests of safety for all involved. The emergency road closure put in place this afternoon has now been lifted. Police say the death is still being treated as unexplained. UPDATE THURSDAY – Police remain on scene at Swanmore Road as enquiries continue.