Mystery Surrounds Death of 57-Year-Old Man Found Beside River After Cornwall Food Festival as Police Appeal for Answers

A family in Cornwall is desperately searching for answers after a 57-year-old man was found unconscious beside a river and later pronounced dead. Abdellah “Abby” Saber had recently attended a popular food festival and spent time in the nearby town of Truro. Now, detectives believe he may have been assaulted in the days before his death, and two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder as investigators work to piece together his final movements.

Emergency services were called at around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, after a report of an unconscious man beside the river on Tolgarrick Road in Tuckingmill, near Camborne. Paramedics attempted to save Saber, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police informed his next of kin and began investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, which was initially treated as unexplained.

Detectives have been retracing Saber’s movements in the days leading up to the discovery. According to Devon and Cornwall Police, he had been sleeping in a tent in Truro and attended the Truro Food Festival over the weekend of September 25–27. He then travelled to the Camborne area on Monday, September 28, just one day before he was found beside the river.

Investigators believe Saber may have been assaulted during the festival weekend, although police have not publicly established exactly what happened or where any alleged attack took place. Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder and subsequently released on police bail while enquiries continue. Their arrests do not establish guilt, and detectives are still working to determine whether anyone was responsible for Saber’s death.

Detective Inspector Jonathan Bray said officers were exploring several lines of enquiry to understand what happened to Saber during the hours and days before he died. Police are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw him in Truro or Camborne, witnessed a possible assault, or may have information that could help investigators establish his movements. Officers are also asking anyone with relevant photographs or video footage to come forward.

As the investigation continues, Saber’s family has released a deeply emotional tribute, describing him as a “genuinely beautiful soul” who was warm-hearted, generous, adventurous and full of life. They said his sudden death had devastated their world and that the unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances made their grief even more difficult to bear.

The family also appealed directly to the public for help, stressing that no family should have to endure such a loss while still searching for answers. They believe Saber deserved more time and more opportunities to experience life, and they hope that someone who saw something during his final days will provide information that can help explain what happened.

For now, the circumstances of Saber’s death remain unresolved. Detectives continue to appeal for witnesses as his loved ones wait for clarity about his final hours. Anyone with information or footage that could assist the investigation is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101, quoting reference 50260260994.

Source: The Mirror