Body of missing firefighter Anthony Knott found in river by police

Police find body of missing firefighter and father-of-four Anthony Knott, 33, in river three weeks after he vanished on night out

  • Anthony Knott, 33, has been found dead in the water at Denton Island, Sussex 
  • Member of the public found his body this morning and called police  
  • The firefighter went missing from Kent on December 20 after going to the pub 

The body of missing firefighter Anthony Knott was found by police this morning, three weeks after he mysteriously disappeared. 

A member of the public alerted police at 9.41am to the body of a man in the water at Denton Island.   

The 33-year-old father-of-four, from Orpington, Kent, vanished on December 20 after going to the Lamb pub in Lewes, East Sussex, with friends. 

A member of the public alerted police at 9.41am on this morning to the body of a man in the water at Denton Island

The dead body of missing firefighter Anthony Knott has been found by police. A member of the public alerted police at 9.41am on this morning to the body of a man in the water at Denton Island

He left The Lamb in Fisher Street at around 7.16pm and was captured on CCTV approximately half an hour later walking nearby. 

Detective Inspector Mark Rosser said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Anthony at this difficult time. 

‘We too are saddened by this update and would ask the public and media to respect the family’s privacy at this time.

‘We would like to thank the public for their tremendous support with our investigation into the disappearance of Anthony, along with our partner agencies and volunteers who assisted with the search.’

Police carried out extensive searches on foot and in the River Ouse for 12 days, but called them off on January 1. 

Lucy Otto and her fiancé Anthony Knott, a 33-year-old father-of-four from Orpington in Kent

Lucy Otto and her fiancé Anthony Knott, a 33-year-old father-of-four from Orpington in Kent

Mr Knott had been on a work night out with 12 fellow London firefighters, and police said there was nothing to suggest he had left the town.

Speaking last week, his fiancee Lucy Otto told Sky News: ‘I just feel numb… it’s very strange. It’s the not knowing, it’s terrible. I don’t understand how someone can just walk out a pub and disappear.

‘There’s no eyewitness statements, there’s not much CCTV, there’s nothing really to go on. And to be gone for this long, I just don’t get it, I just do not understand it.  

Mr Knott was seen walking along Market Street towards The Lamb at 7.41pm on December 20

Mr Knott was seen walking along Market Street towards The Lamb at 7.41pm on December 20

Searches of the River Ouse in Lewes for missing firefighter Mr Knott on December 23

Searches of the River Ouse in Lewes for missing firefighter Mr Knott on December 23

‘I know the weather was really bad that day and there was bad flooding, I don’t know if he’s tried to come home and come across some water and hurt himself. But there’s been search and rescue teams looking for him.’

She added that they had been ‘really excited’ for Christmas and had been looking forward to ‘fun, family time’.

She called for anyone in the vicinity of the pub to contact police with any details they can remember.

In a direct message to her fiance, she added: ‘If… you’re worried and you’re thinking, ‘Oh I can’t come home, this is too big now’, honestly, you don’t realise how many people want you back regardless of the situation you left in – if that is the case. So just come home, please just come home.’  

London Fire Brigade Commissioner Andy Roe, said: ‘I’m saddened to hear the news about Firefighter Anthony Knott. All our thoughts remain with his family, friends and colleagues. This is understandably extremely difficult for Firefighter Knott’s family and I ask that we all respect their privacy.’ 

Sussex Police divers are pictured combing the River Ouse in the hunt for missing firefighter Anthony Knott who disappeared from a pub in Lewes on December 20

Sussex Police divers are pictured combing the River Ouse in the hunt for missing firefighter Anthony Knott who disappeared from a pub in Lewes on December 20 

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