Cheshire: Body found in canal is missing 88-year-old

At around 1:30pm on Saturday, January 7, officers were called to multiple reports of a body in the Manchester Ship Canal near to Warburton Toll Bridge.

A huge emergency services presence, including police, fire crews and paramedics, attended the scene, but sadly, the body of a man was recovered from the water.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the man had been declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

In a further statement, the force has now tragically confirmed that officers in south Manchester are no longer looking for Ronald Roose.

The 88-year-old, who had recently beaten cancer, went missing from East Didsbury at around 7:30pm on Sunday, November 27.

Formal identification has now taken place, and it is sadly confirmed that the body is that of the missing old age pensioner.

DS Neil Jones said: “Our condolences are with Mr Roose’s family, and we would also like to thank the members of the public who helped with the search or shared our appeal.”

Mr Roose's family has thanked Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the underwater search team for all their efforts.

Following the sad news, Mr Roose’s son Paul has set up an online donation page aiming to raise £2,500 for a memorial bench for his father, and also his late mother Gwen.

Any money raised after this will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support nurses at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

On the page, he said: “Gwen and Ron Roose were two of the kindest, generous, caring people. They touched the lives of so many in so many different ways.

“I was lucky enough to call them mum and dad, so this is their story. For the last couple of years, they both fought their own cancer diagnosis.

“Mum had a secondary tumour from a previous breast cancer a number of years ago, and we lost her in April 2022.

“At the same time, dad was given his own bad news. After breaking his arm, it was found the bone was cancerous and he had numerous other tumours around his body.

“All through Covid, they both had treatment and support from The Christie, and dad miraculously beat cancer at the ripe old age of 88.

“However, on November 28, dad vanished, and after a huge police response, a body was recovered in the canal six weeks later on January 7.

“The support of friends, family and neighbours has been amazing.

“Mum and dad did not want funerals or a fuss, but I would love to be able to put a bench in Fletchmoss in their memory, so their friends and family all have a little place where they can remember Gwen and Ron.”

If you would like to donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gwenandron