Southampton man who died in River Itchen named

An inquest has opened into the death of Wieslaw Cichocki, of Denzil Avenue.

The 59-year-old's body was found in the River Itchen near the Northam Bridge on May 23.

READ MORE: Man's body recovered from Itchen River after coastguard search

Senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson opened the inquest at Winchester Coroners' Court on Monday, June 3. 

The cause of death was given as drowning. 

The Coastguard helicopter searches the River Itchen (Image: David Reeve)

A full inquest will be held at Winchester Coroners' Court on June 18 next year. 

The Coastguard, police, fire service and members of the Hamble Independent Lifeboat all scoured the river between the Northam and Itchen bridges from around 4am on Thursday, May 23 following reports of a person in the water.

Later that morning, Hampshire Police confirmed a body had been found by crews who had been searching the area.

A spokesperson for the force said at the time: "We were called shortly before 4am on Thursday, May 23, to a report of the concern for the welfare of a man at the Northam bridge in Southampton.

"Police attended and carried out a thorough search of the surrounding area alongside our Coastguard colleagues.

The Hamble Independent Lifeboat assisted the search (Image: David Reeve)

"The body of a man in his 50s was located shortly before 7.30am. His death is being treated as unexplained and a file will be prepared for the coroner. His next of kin have been informed."

Many residents were awoken by the sound of the Coastguard helicopter hovering overhead, with first reports coming in at around 5am.

The search concluded at around 7.30am after the man’s body was recovered.

One resident said that the sound of the helicopter woke her up at her home in Sholing.

The resident who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "The helicopter has been circling around the Itchen River since really early this morning. It was quite loud and it woke me up.

"I first heard it around 5.30am this morning. It has been circling the area and hovering above the water of a while now."