A BODY has been recovered from a river by rescue teams, causing shock in a community.

Residents in Broadwas reported seeing up to 20 emergency vehicles, including police cars and ambulances, in the village on Thursday as a body was recovered from the River Teme, near farmland.

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Ambulance services placed the incident at Lulsley but residents described it as being further west in Broadwas.

The Worcester News understands that the bulk of the emergency activity was on the Broadwas side of the river at Church Farm but that the body was removed from the water on the Lulsley side.

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance said: “We were called at 6.52pm on Thursday to reports of a patient in the water at Lulsley in Knightwick.

"We sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

"On arrival, crews found one patient, a man. Sadly, it quickly became clear nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased on scene."

Jim Norris, a resident of Broadwas, said: "It was shocking to discover a body had been found. The bulk of the activity was taking place between 7pm and 8pm. The gates were open as the farmer had been harvesting.

"We didn't know what on earth was going on. We were shocked to hear from the farm workers that the police and ambulance service had discovered a body.

"It was a hive of activity by the river. There were at least 14 to 20 emergency vehicles. We could see a helicopter overhead and there was a drone."

He said farm workers had been busy with the harvest at the time.

West Mercia Police have yet to respond with a comment about the incident.