The unidentified bodies found in Suffolk including in Felixstowe, Aldeburgh and Ipswich
More than 30 years ago, a tragic discovery was made in the hold of a ship docked at Felixstowe.
Found wrapped in a Moroccan carpet was the body of a man.
It was believed he was crushed by falling cargo.
He has never been identified.
The man is one of hundreds of unsolved cases, many stretching back decades, registered with the UK Missing Persons Unit.
It is the UK national and international point of contact for all missing person and unidentified body cases.
Each year the unit records about 120 unidentified cases and has about 1,200 open cases on its database.
Some are featured on the unit’s website, which was launched in 2012, to ensure these lost souls are never forgotten and to help find their loved ones.
Many will have received local or national press coverage but memories fade and families and friends of the missing may not have seen or realise the significance of such publicity at the time.
The website says it is necessary to continuously publicise these unidentified cases to maximise the possibility of those who have lost contact with people or who have reported them as missing seeing the details of the case and recognising the individual may be their missing relative or friend.
SuffolkNews has looked at the publicly available cases from the county to help keep their memory alive. Some cases listed on the website contain sensitive images which have not been included.
Case 03-004492
On December 9, 2003, the partial remains of a man were found on the beach at Aldeburgh.
They were believed to have been in the water for about three months.
His age range was estimated to have been 35 to 100, his height 5ft 11ins to 7ft 11ins and he was of a heavy build.
Case 06-025957
On October 19, 1991, the body of a man was found hanged in a secluded wood area in Blundeston.
He was 20 to 30-years-old, 6ft 2ins to 6ft 3ins, slim, with brown receding hair and clean shaven.
He had hazel eyes and was white European.
His clothing included white ‘Adidas’ boot type trainers, black jeans with gold stitching, a black sweatshirt, a beige raincoat, a black summer jacket and a black ‘Chipie’ sweatshirt.
Among the man’s possessions were a black holdall bag, blue 'Nitestar' sleeping bag, plasters with a price tag of FSC Andrews, 156 King St, Gt Yarmouth, 'Mutant Turtles' toothbrush, three British Rail timetables and an English/German dictionary.
He had a Edox watch, probably sold in Germany.
Case 06-025163
On January 31, 1988, the body of a man was found wrapped in a Moroccan carpet in the hold of a ship while it was docked at Felixstowe.
The ship had berthed at Casablanca on January 23, 1988 and Cádiz, Spain.
It is believed he was crushed by falling cargo.
He was aged 20 to 30, his ethnicity was described as dark European, he was 5ft 6ins, slim, had black curly hair and brown eyes.
Case 06-025146
On July 18, 1985, the body of a man was discovered on the railway track two miles from Ipswich station.
He was 20 to 35-years-old, 6ft, medium build, had dark brown short hair, grey eyes and a scar on his chest.
His clothing included blue ‘Lee’ jeans, a blue t-shirt, blue checked shirt, an orange cagoule, black calf-length Dr Martens and a black ‘Levi’ sweatshirt.
He had a silver metal watch.
Among his possessions were a canvas satchel/rucksack, glasses, cash and a black comb.
Case 06-025577
On November 4, 1980, the body of a man was washed ashore between Walberswick and Dunwich.
He was believed to have been in the water for at least six months.
The man was aged 35 to 45, white European, 5ft 10ins and of stocky build.
His clothing included a brown leather belt with a silver buckle, woollen black socks, navy 'Marks And Spencer' make jeans with 34" W / 31" inside leg.
His underwear was listed as orange, brown, white leopard skin, 'Marks And Spencer', 33-35" waist.
To report a possible name, the website says to contact the Missing Persons Unit by email at ukmpu@nca.gov.uk giving as much information as possible about the person you think it is such as date of birth, description, when and where they were last seen, if they have been reported missing and in which force.
Alternatively, you can use the 'I know this person' reporting box which is shown next to each case.
The unit will acknowledge your message within five working days via email.
If you need to report someone missing, please call your local police on 101 or visit your nearest police station. If there are immediate welfare concerns, call 999.
Visit missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/home
