Police have published photographs of a mystery man’s tattoos after his body washed ashore in Rottingdean last month.
They have appealed for help to identify the unknown man after an inquest into his death was opened and the coroner asked for efforts to be made to work out who he was.
Sussex Police said: “We’re continuing work to identify a man who was sadly found deceased on Rottingdean beach.
“On Sunday 11 October at around 9.40am, emergency services responded to welfare concerns for a man who had been seen at the water’s edge on Rottingdean beach.
“Sadly, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene and attempts to identify him and his next of kin have been ongoing.
“He is described as being in his late fifties or early sixties and of a slim build.
“He also has a number of tattoos.
“We’re now releasing images of his tattoos to help in the identification process and ask that if you feel you recognise any of them or have any information to assist our inquiries, you make a report to police.
“You can do this online or by calling 101, quoting reference 313 of 11/10.”
Forensic pathologist David Wright carried out port-mortem tests and said that the provisional cause of death was drowning.
At the West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Coroner’s Court, in Horsham, the coroner Catherine Turtle opened and adjourned the inquest on Tuesday (10 November).
She directed that “efforts continue to identify this gentleman through the police and local services”.
The next hearing is due to take place on Tuesday 8 June next year at Horsham.
