Golden, loving Walsall grandfather lost in canal tragedy despite manhunt

Those were the kind words spoken about Walsall pensioner Sidney Edlin after his body was found in a Black Country canal.

Mr Edlin went missing on Thursday last week, sparking a police search and an emotional plea from his family for his safe return.

His daughter Jacqueline, aged 60 from Bentley, said today: "We are just so sad he has gone. No-one can believe what has happened.

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"I just can't understand why, we are all just baffled. People were searching for him and I am just grateful to them for doing it. We would like to thank everyone.

"He was a very quiet man. He was known for being the man with the dogs."

The confirmation of the discovery of the father-of-four, near Leamore Lane, came just hours after his family made an emotional plea.

The former gas fitter's wife of more than 60 years, Lilian, had suffered a fall and broken hip on the day he went missing and this is believed to have affected him.

Shortly before his disappearance he told members of staff at his regular bookmakers in nearby Queen Elizabeth Avenue that they would never see him again.

Mr Edlin, who has more than 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was last seen walking off in the direction of Jane Lane School in Bentley and police had carried out searches of his regular haunts of Walsall town centre and canalside walks.

Relatives had also been to a caravan park in Brewood which he used to visit in the hope he had gone somewhere he knew.

His family also launched a desperate plea for him to return home in the Express & Star saying it would be a 'big chunk' out of their lives if they never saw him again.

They admitted they were not eating or sleeping as they waited to hear if he had been found safe and well.