Police name 'river drowning' couple

A young couple who may have drowned after entering a swollen river to rescue their pet dog have been formally named by police.

Alicia Marie Williams, 25, and boyfriend David Christopher Platt, also 25, had been walking their dogs near the River Clywedog, near Wrexham, North Wales, when the tragedy occurred.

It is feared the couple may have entered the river trying to rescue one of their dogs and drowned in fast currents caused by heavy rainfall.

Locals said the River Clywedog has risen by about four feet (1.2m) since this week's torrential downpours began.

North Wales Police said the deaths of the couple, who had been together for more than two years, were being treated as unexplained.

The body of Ms Williams, who has a young daughter, was found on a sandbank by another dog walker shortly after 5pm on Wednesday.

Police extended their search after witnesses reported having seen two people walking with "four or five" dogs a short time before. More than 20 volunteers, including fire and local search and rescue crews, took part in the operation, which later recovered Mr Platt's body nearby.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Pierce, of North Wales Police, said the families of the couple were suffering a "huge amount of distress".

He said: "The two deaths are unexplained but the likely scenario is at the moment that there was unfortunately a tragic accident. We believe the couple were here with dogs and at the time the river was swollen."

Post-mortem examinations are expected to take place on Friday morning to establish the cause of death and a file is being prepared for the coroner.