Hartlepool pier cordoned off after male's death
South Pier at Hartlepool marina was taped off by Cleveland Police and a number of emergency services vehicles descended on the area at around midday on Tuesday.
The body of a male was taken away and police say they are not treating the death as suspicious.
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Hide AdA Cleveland Police spokesman said: "At around 11.45am this morning, Tuesday 18th September, the body of a male was located close to South Pier in Hartlepool.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the Coroner."
The pier reopened at around 12.30pm.
Residents described a flurry of activity as police, the Coastguard and ambulance service all attended the area.
They told of a middle-aged woman who was escorted away by police officers.
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Hide AdShortly afterwards an ambulance reversed down the length of the pier to where the body was.
Sheila Collins, who lives in Trident Close, said: "The police came and I saw them looking around as if they were looking for somebody.
"All of a sudden I saw them running down the pier. When they came back up they were with a woman.
"The next minute I saw the ambulance go down the pier."
Another woman whose flat overlooks the pier, but did not wish to be named, said: "We just looked out and the police were there.
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Hide Ad"You get a lot of people down here, everyone comes down for a walk.
"It is very sad. They might have just been out for a walk."
A man, who wanted to be anonymous, added: "At first I thought the police were after criminals. When I saw the woman I thought it must be something bad because she looked like she was in shock."
A resident of Compass House flats, who did not wish to be named, said: "In total there was four ordinary police vans, a scenes of crime van, a police car, Coastguard pick up and an ambulance.
"All we know is the casualty was at the end of the south pier."
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Hide AdPaula Lowther who lives in the flats added: "The paramedics walked down the pier first then came back and the coastguard opened the gates and the ambulance reversed all the way down to wherever the incident was."