A YOUNG boy discovered a dead body when he kicked his football over the garden hedge.

The seven-year-old went to retrieve the ball and found the man, who he thought was asleep.

He told his sister, 12, who also went to look. The girl realised the severity of the situation and the family immediately called 999.

They had been puzzled by a wafting smell for a few days, but despite having been in their garden, even trimming the bushes the day before, they had no idea the body was there.

The police, who have not named the man, confirmed: "At around 6.40pm on Sunday, July 7, the body of a man was found on an area of land behind houses in Silver Trees, Shanklin.

"At this stage the death is not being treated as a suspicious. Identification procedures remain ongoing at this time.

"A file is being prepared for the coroner."

An inquest has not yet been opened into the death of the man, who is believed to be in his 30s.

The children's mother said: "The police established it was not foul play but they could not pick up the body until the next day, so it was there all night while officers guarded the scene.

"It is very sad and all we can hope is that the man's family have some closure now."

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