AS THE body of Cam man Richard Cole was flown back to the UK, his mum said she had been "left in the dark" by Dutch police over how her son died.

After the 30-year-old’s body was discovered in a canal in Amsterdam last Monday night, his employers at Stroud Auctions said his life was “taken by an act of violence”.

Yesterday, his body was flown back to the UK, but his family are still no closer to knowing the cause of his death.

“We understand that it takes time but we have still heard nothing from the police,” said Mr Cole’s mother, Debbie Thornhill.

“We do not know where their inquiries are going – it is like we have been left in the dark.

“We are still no closer to knowing the cause of death.

“It is frustrating but we will have to wait.”

Mrs Thornhill said she had not been given any indication from the police that the death had been the result of “an act of violence”.

Hundreds of people have offered support to the family since Mr Cole's body was discovered in the Herengracht canal in Amsterdam.

Cards and flowers from around the world have been sent to the family home in Spouthouse Lane, Cam, and both Mrs Thornhill and Richard's dad, Brian, expressed their thanks.

“It has just shown how well-liked Richard was,” said Mrs Thornhill.

“We have always been proud of Richard. The messages show that he was seen the same way in everybody else’s eyes as he was in ours.

“We have had messages from all over the world, not only from friends and acquaintances but from people who knew Richard themselves.

“I have never seen so many flowers.

“It makes you feel proud and sad at the same time. We have been touched and overwhelmed by the support.”

Mrs Thornhill also wished to thank the thousands of people who shared an appeal to help find Mr Cole on Facebook after he was reported missing on Monday, January 25.

Mr Cole’s brother, Lee Thornhill, returned to the UK last night after he had travelled to Amsterdam to help police with the search.

EasyJet offered to transport the body of Mr Cole to the UK free of charge as a gesture of support.

The inquest case will be handed over to the Gloucestershire coroner while Dutch police continue to investigate.

Mr Cole was visiting Amsterdam on business and was on his way to a meeting in Assen.

He was last been seen by an eyewitness in Coco’s Outback bar in the Thorbeckeplein area in the early hours of January 25.

His girlfriend, Alicia Marie, who was the last person to speak to him on the phone that morning, said the family had been left in ‘disbelief.’ She said: “We have so many memories and special moments in the all too short span of a year-and-a-half that we knew each other.

“My life will never be the same without him because he is just that unforgettable.

“He had a way about him to make you feel alive, to make you feel complete, and the way he looks at you to make you feel so special and adored.

“We met by chance in Las Vegas, he extended his trip a few days and ended up at a Sunday night pool party.

“I was dragged to the same pool party by some close friends.

“I walked over to my friends and there was Rich introducing himself to my friends who introduced him to me.

“The moment after we shook hands and locked eyes, with his hand in mine, we ran off to the dance floor and spent the night laughing and dancing and him carrying me back to my friends as the night ended.

“It’s so hard to put into words the bond you share with someone, your future hopes and dreams of just simple things like getting married, having children and falling asleep together each night.

“He used to tell me as long as he wakes up with a kiss from me he would be happy the rest of his life.”

Mr Cole’s brother, Daniel Cole, 21, said on Facebook: “I miss you more and more each day."

The Dutch Socialist Party has called to improve safety by the canals in Amsterdam since the death.

Around 15 bodies are recovered from the city’s canals every year, with other recent tragedies including Scottish man Chris Nelson and Norwegian tourist, Tore Grodem.