PARAMEDICS only discovered a second body in the canal after responding to a 999 call about a man who had suffered a cardiac arrest by the waterway in Purton.

According to South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAS), they received the call at 9.30am on Sunday, January 12 which reported that a male had been found unconscious and not breathing at Gloucester Sharpness Canal.

SWAS spokesman, Melanie Glanville, said: “We sent an ambulance, a paramedic in a rapid-response vehicle and the air ambulance.

She added that the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) was also requested as the patient was some distance along the canal path.

HART uses various off-road vehicles that could be used to transport the patient back to the air ambulance or land ambulance if required.

Ms Glanville added: “When HART arrived they were alerted to a second male who had been found further along the canal in the water.

“Unfortunately both patients were deceased at the scene.”

The deaths of both men are currently being treated as non suspicious and Gloucestershire Police are in the process of identifying next of kin and the coroner has been informed.

A spokesman from the police said they could not comment further at this time.