A MAN whose body was recovered from the English Channel two days after an empty canoe was found has been named.

He was 42-year-old Robert Andrew Deacon, from Sandgate, near Folkestone. His body was recovered off Rye in East Sussex on Saturday. A coroner is investigating the tragedy.

The canoe was found floating between Folkestone and Dungeness.

Dover coastguard Barry Woodward said the body had a wound to the back of the head but it was unclear whether this was received prior to or following death.