A CORONER has called it a 'matter of some sorrow' that the identity of a man who washed up on the shore in Barrow 18 months ago is still unknown.

A white male, thought to be aged between 50 and 60, was spotted off the western shore of Roa Island at just after 2pm on Sunday, April 30, 2023, by members of the public at Roa Island Boating Club.

In a statement submitted to Cockermouth Coroners Court by Detective Inspector Laura Nield of Cumbria Police, she said that she attended the scene and conducted a search of the body in a nearby boathouse.

DI Nield said that the man was naked, clean shaven with thinning grey hair, balding on the top, and had no distinguishing marks or tattoos.

She said he was initially found face down in the sand, and not swollen, so she surmised that he 'had not been in the water for a long time', but had abrasions to his chest and back, thought to be caused by contact with the seabed.

He was of a 'medium to heavy build', and estimated to be between 50 and 60 years old.

DI Nield said that her initial hypothesis was that he had taken his own life, though Assistant Coroner for Cumbria, Mr Robert Cohen, said that there was 'no evidential basis' for this theory.

DNA samples and fingerprints were obtained from the man's body, and checked against the UK national missing persons database, as well as those of Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, Belgium, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Czech Republic, yet no matches were found.

READ MORE: Inquest held into death of mystery man who washed up on beach

Dental impressions were taken, as well as a check of the body for any metalwork implants for traceable serial numbers, but none were present.

DI Nield said that a further press release was issued to appeal for information, and this included a forensic artist’s reproduction of the man’s face.

The release was shared over a million times on Facebook and a number of names were given as possible identities, but again, all were discounted due to the man’s description.

Police also liaised with officials in Ireland, but no matches were found.

A toxicology report showed no findings of any significance, and a post-mortem examination showed all physical and histological signs are 'fully consistent' with death by drowning, which Mr Cohen accepted in his conclusion.

It was then agreed that due to the 'considerable' length of time elapsed, and the condition of the body, a burial should take place, but DNA and dental records will remain on file.

The case will remain with the Cumbria Police until the man can be identified.

Mr Cohen concluded: "In essence, it is a sad situation that somebody has died, and despite the exhaustive attempts by Cumbria Constabulary, it has nor been possible to identify who they are.

"All we really know is that they were a white male between 50 and 60.

"They didn't have any significant marks, their DNA is not on police systems, nor on the systems of a very large number of countries.

"Significantly, public enquiries have not revealed who they were, and that is very sad, and it is a matter of some sorrow that it has not been possible to identify wo this man was."

Mr Cohen recorded an open conclusion, and stated that the inquest can be re-listed if further information becomes available.