An investigation is underway after the body of a man was discovered by a member of the public in woodland on a hillside in Lancashire.
Emergency services were scrambled to Longridge Fell, England's most southerly fell, shortly after 2:30pm yesterday (Easter Sunday) following the grim discovery.
And following a complex operation the body was recovered with the help of mountain rescue. Police say they are treating the death as unexplained.
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Officers, who are now attempting trace the man's relatives, are asking anyone with information to contact them urgently. According to Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team, the body was not on any recognised path or track and recovery was 'difficult'. The body had to be recovered in darkness after specialists attended the scene at around 8.30pm reports Lancs Live.
The body was safely carried from the mountainside via Bell stretcher by police officers and mountain rescue workers. The deceased was then transferred to an undertaker.
The response to the incident lasted over three hours and involved 13 team members from the Bowland mountain rescue team.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary said: "We were called to Longridge Fell at 2.35pm yesterday afternoon (April 9), to a report that a body had been found in the woodland.
"Emergency services attended, including Bowland Mountain Rescue, and sadly found the body of a deceased male. His death is currently being treated as unexplained.
"Enquiries are underway to identify the male. Anyone with any information is asked to contact us on 101 quoting log 0730 of April 9.”
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