THE devastated family of a father whose body was found floating in the sea at a Christchurch beach have spoken of their “great distress.”

An inquest into the death of Rico Dardis, 30, from Bournemouth, who suffered injuries caused by a boat propeller, was opened and adjourned yesterday.

In a statement his grieving relatives said Mr Dardis’s death had caused them “great distress,” adding: “We are grieving for the tragic loss of a son, brother and father. We ask that our privacy is respected and we are given time and space at this difficult time.”

Dorset police, who are renewing their appeal for witnesses, confirmed that “some” of the injuries sustained by Mr Dardis appear to have been inflicted by a propeller.

Detectives, who have been granted an additional 36 hours to question two Bournemouth men, aged 49 and 51, arrested on suspicion of murder, have recovered a knife.

Mr Dardis was found floating near groynes at Seaway Avenue, Steamer Point, Friars Cliff, on Monday night. As well as scouring the beach for clues, detectives have examined Mayor’s Mead car park in Wick Lane, near Christchurch Quay.

Their investigation is also focusing on a red-bricked block of flats at Drury Road in the Alum Chine area of Bournemouth and another block of flats in Hamilton Road, Boscombe. Both were cordoned off while detectives hunted for evidence.

Det Inspector Marcus Hester, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Dorset police were first alerted to the incident by two members of the public who raised the alarm after witnessing two men acting suspiciously onboard a boat.

“These two men were stopped in a vehicle a short time later and detained. A major investigation has been launched to ensure that we establish exactly what happened to Rico.”

He added: “I am keen to hear from anyone who may have seen three men on a green and white Maxin motor cruiser boat prior to the incident, or any suspicious behaviour in the area of Friars Cliff and Wick Lane. All calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should phone 101 in confidence, quoting crime number 27:447 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.