DETECTIVES are waiting to question a man in hospital about the suspicious death of a foundry worker at a North-East beauty spot.
Michael Burrup, 36, had been walking home from the Packhorse Pub in Stanhope in the early hours of Saturday morning when he became embroiled in a heated row with another man.
He had left the pub at 3.30am with a friend from Stanhope and two men from Sunderland, who were making their way back to the Heather View Caravan Park.
Moments later Mr Burrup fell through a fence, down an embankment and ended up face-down in a stagnant pool, part of the River Wear.
A 26-year-old man from Sunderland also ended up in the water but he was pulled out, unconscious but still breathing.
Police say they are treating the incident as a 'serious, suspicious death,' and are now trying to piece together the Stanhope man's final moments.
An incident room has been set up at Crook police station. Anyone with any information should contact detectives on (01388) 762011.
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