Key Points
- The Greater Manchester Police have stated that the body recovered at Withins Reservoir on Friday, 6th November, 2026, is Anthony, a 69-year old missing man from Radcliffe.
- The last sighting of Anthony was at 4pm on Sunday, November 1st, taking a walk with his dog in the vicinity of Royal Oak pub, Water Street, Radcliffe.
- His dog was discovered a few hours later in the vicinity of the junction of Higher Ainsworth Road and Bury and Bolton Road.
- Several search teams, including an underwater team, were used by police after considering the possibility of Anthony entering the water.
- Identification is now complete and Anthony’s next of kin have been notified and supported by specialist officers.
- The police thanked everyone who responded to their appeal and asked for privacy for the family of Anthony.
- In an earlier post, the police had appealed for information on a distinctive dog lead which was believed to belong to Anthony.
- Greater Manchester Police state that people should report missing person concerns on 101.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) November 07, 2026 — A body recovered from Withins Reservoir has been formally identified as Anthony, the 69-year-old Radcliffe man who went missing while walking his dog five days earlier, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.
As reported by the Bury Times, a police spokesperson said: “A body found in Withins Reservoir yesterday afternoon, Friday November 6 2026, has now been confirmed to be missing man Anthony from Radcliffe.”
The confirmation brought an end to a multi-day search operation involving officers from across Greater Manchester Police, including a specialist underwater search team. Police said Anthony’s next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers.
What did police confirm?
Greater Manchester Police said the body was found in Withins Reservoir on the afternoon of Friday, 6 November. Formal identification has since taken place, confirming that it was Anthony.
In a statement reported by the Bury Times, the force said:
“Formal identification has now taken place, and it has been confirmed to be Anthony.”
The police also said:
“His next of kin have now been informed and are being supported by specialist officers at this time.”
ITV News Granada reported that the body was found on the evening of Friday, 6 November, while the Bury Times described the discovery as having taken place that afternoon. Both reports identified the location as Withins Reservoir in Radcliffe, Bury.
When was Anthony last seen?
Anthony was last seen at about 4pm on Sunday, 1 November, while walking his dog near the Royal Oak pub on Water Street in Radcliffe.
As reported by the Bury Times, police said Anthony was wearing a blue puffa coat and blue jeans when he was last seen.
Greater Manchester Police said Anthony’s dog was found several hours later near the junction of Higher Ainsworth Road and Bury and Bolton Road.
ITV News Granada reported that the dog was found without a lead or collar.
How did the search develop?
Police began searching for Anthony after he was reported missing on 1 November. The force issued several public appeals during the following days as officers sought information from residents and people who may have used nearby routes.
On 5 November, Greater Manchester Police said specialist teams had been deployed, including an underwater search team. Officers said searches were being carried out along waterways close to Anthony’s last known location.
As reported by the Bury Times, police said:
“Efforts to find Anthony had been ongoing and multiple teams across Greater Manchester Police have been involved in the search operation.”
The force added:
“This included an underwater search team who were operating near to Anthony’s last known location.”
What did police say about the water?
Before the body was found, police said the possibility that Anthony had entered water was one of several lines of enquiry.
As reported by the Bury Times on 5 November, Greater Manchester Police said: “While underwater search teams are involved in this operation, the hypothesis that Anthony could have entered water is just one line of enquiry that we are currently exploring.”
The force also released an image of the lead it believed Anthony had been using when he went missing. Police said the lead had not been recovered at that stage and asked anyone who recognised it, or had information about Anthony’s movements, to come forward.
What did police ask the public to do?
During the search, Greater Manchester Police urged anyone with information to contact the force on 101 or report information online, quoting log number 4055 of 1 November 2026.
After the identification was confirmed, police thanked people who had shared appeals for Anthony. The force asked that his family be given privacy at what it described as a difficult time.
The Bury Times reported that police said:
“We would like to thank everyone who shared our appeals for Anthony, and ask that his family are given privacy at this difficult time.”
Background of the development
Anthony, 69, was reported missing after being last seen in Radcliffe on Sunday, 1 November. Initial police appeals said he had been seen on Netley Gardens at about 3pm, before a later update placed his final known sighting at about 4pm near the Royal Oak pub on Water Street.
His dog was found later that day, but Anthony was not located. Greater Manchester Police described growing concern for his welfare and expanded the search operation, involving specialist teams and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
On 5 November, police renewed their appeal and released an image of the distinctive dog lead believed to have been used by Anthony. Officers also said underwater teams were searching waterways near his last known location, while stressing that entering water was only one possible line of enquiry.
The search continued until a body was found in Withins Reservoir on 6 November. Greater Manchester Police subsequently confirmed that formal identification established the body was Anthony’s.
Prediction: how this may affect the local community
For Radcliffe residents and people who regularly use the areas around Water Street, Higher Ainsworth Road and nearby waterways, the development is likely to increase awareness of safety around reservoirs and canal-side routes, particularly during dog walks or periods of reduced visibility.
The confirmation may also prompt greater caution among dog walkers using the Royal Oak pub area and paths close to Withins Reservoir. Residents may be more likely to report unfamiliar activity, abandoned belongings or concerns about people near water, while police appeals could continue to rely on local knowledge of the area.
For Anthony’s family and friends, the identification is likely to begin a period of grief and practical arrangements, with police support available through specialist officers. The force’s request for privacy indicates that further public updates may be limited unless there is a significant operational development.
For the wider Bury community, the case may reinforce the importance of promptly reporting missing-person concerns to police. Greater Manchester Police continues to advise anyone with concerns about a missing person to call 101.
