MYSTERY surrounds the death of a man whose body was found bobbing in the River Thames.

Barry Stewart was spotted by a horrified group of boys on October 9, 2016.

An inquest into the 68-year-old's death heard a piece of A5 paper was discovered on a riverbank near Monkey Island Lane, Bray with the word 'GONE' and his name and address written on it.

Witness Paul Marcon was with his daughter when he spotted a group of boys calling for help.

“They said there was something in the water, at first I thought it was a discarded buoy, I looked again and I realised it was a body,” his statement read.

Police arrived at the scene before a water rescue unit was called.

“I could see a blue object floating in the water and it appeared to be a draw string bag and a male person appeared to be stood upright, bobbing,” PC Allen's statement read.

“I was dropped at the riverbank and I saw nothing initially, I continued my search and noticed a piece of A5 paper with the word 'GONE' written on it.

“There was a name and address at the bottom of the piece of paper.”

A post-mortem examination was unable to determine a cause of death.

“It was clear he had been in the water for quite some time, there was a partial onset decomposition but no obvious evidence of an old or recent heart attack,” a statement from pathologist Dr Rezan Gardy read.

No alcohol was found in his blood or urine in a toxicology report, while paracetamol and antidepressants discovered were recorded at 'therapeutic but not toxic' levels.

When police searched his home in Church Road, Ascot they found no evidence he was planning to take his own life.

His cousins Sheila and George Sims told Mr Bedford that even though he had suffered from depression they were shocked at the thought he could take his life.

Recording an open verdict on February 22, Mr Bedford said: “We do not know how he got into the water, no one has come forward. There are no witnesses.

“I hesitate because it is an unsatisfactory conclusion but sometimes it is all we have. If it was not for the word 'GONE' then we wouldn't be contemplating something more sinister.

“As a coroner I can only record if someone has taken their own life if I am satisfied beyond all doubt they have intended to take their own life.

“The only evidence that we have from that is the word 'GONE'. It is not enough to meet the very high standards I have to adhere to.”