Man's drowning probed by watchdog

Ryan Curwen (l) and Greg Clifford tried to save the man

The circumstances surrounding the drowning of a man are to be investigated by the police watchdog.

Divers recovered the man's body from the River Exe on the Quay at St Leonards in Exeter, Devon on Tuesday.

Two men who tried to save the man told the BBC they would make a formal complaint about the police reaction.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall police said the matter had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Many people on Exeter's waterfront witnessed the incident, which happened at about 1345 BST.

By the time we got there he was under the water and we couldn't see anything Ryan Curwen, eyewitness

Eyewitnesses said after an apparent disagreement with police officers, the man dived into the river, disappearing under the water when he was about halfway across.

Ryan Curwen and Greg Clifford, dived into the river and spent about 20 minutes unsuccessfully trying to find the man.

"Me and my mate jumped in, swam across, but by the time we got there he was under the water and we couldn't see anything," Mr Curwen said.

"I was in the water for a good 20 minutes then the divers came down."

Life-saving training

Mr Curwen and Mr Clifford told the BBC they were unhappy with the police handling of the incident and intended to make a formal complaint.

Mr Clifford said: "The first police officer to get in the water had to get a boat instead of getting wet.

"He got in a little canoe and paddled out in it."

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were already at the scene answering a disturbance in the area.

"Officers spoke to the reporting person and then the man went for a swim in the river saying he was trying to get across and meet his girlfriend on the opposite side of the bank.

"Police officers and members of the public entered the water when the man appeared to get into difficulty."

The man's body was recovered by divers after a four-hour search

The man's body was recovered at about 1745 BST.

The force said all its officers were trained in life saving and had helped to save 30 people from potentially life threatening incidents last year.

It also worked with the RNLI to train officers and had a team of specially trained divers to help with underwater searches.

A spokesman said the force worked closely with the other emergency services who were fully equipped and trained to deal with water-related incidents.

"We would advise all members of the public not to enter the water if they have been drinking," he added.

The IPCC confirmed the matter had been referred to it.

"We are considering how it's going to be dealt with," a spokesman said.