Volunteer ferryman, 77, named locally as victim of fatal accident in the River Ouse at Nun Monkton

Retired human resources executive Michael Turnham, 77, fell into the river on Friday night.

The father-of-one volunteered with the local ferryboat group, who man a ferry that carries visitors from Nunk Monkton to Beningbrough Hall during the summer months. He was believed to have been working at the jetty where the ferry is moored during the day and returned at around 7pm after realising he had left his mobile phone behind.

Mr Turnham, who was married with a son, was active in village life, and was also a community broadband champion and the organiser of a local arts festival as well as a ferryman.

He had lived in Nun Monkton for around 40 years.

The ferry mooring is located at a part of the river where the Ouse and the Nidd meet, and locals say it is fast-flowing and dangerous following periods of rainfall.

Police helicopters were called to search for Mr Turnham and his body was later recovered from the Ouse downstream at York.

North Yorkshire Police said: "Police were called at around 9.13pm on Friday when concerns were raised after a 77-year-old man from Nun Monkton had not returned home after going out for a walk earlier in the evening.

"Officers carried out a search of the area including air support from the National Police Air Service and river searches by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and York Rescue Boat.

"Sadly, at around 10.40pm the fire service found the body of a man, believed to be the missing man, in the River Ouse near Water End in York.

"Officers do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for the coroner for an inquest at a later date."