A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of David Alun Lewis in the Grangetown area of Cardiff.
Police were alerted to the incident by an anonymous call made just before midnight on Wednesday, March 19, from a phone kiosk on Clare Road, Grangetown.
Officers found Mr Lewis’s body, partially submerged in the water on the Taff Embankment side of the river Taff, beneath Penarth Road bridge.
His death is being treated as murder and a post mortem examination is continuing to establish cause of death.
In a statement, his parents Hetty and Glyndwr said: “This is so sad. We love David so much and our lives will never be the same again. We can’t believe such a thing has happened to our son.”
Mr and Mrs Lewis continue to be updated and supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley, of the South Wales Police Specialist Crime Investigations Team, said: “David Alun Lewis lived with his parents in Ystrad Mynach but would occasionally visit Cardiff, sometimes staying at the Huggard Centre.
“His parents are understandably very distressed about what has happened to their son who they have described as a good decent man, highly intelligent and a talented musician.
“While an individual has been arrested and remains in custody, we are still very much appealing for witnesses.
“We are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the Taff Embankment between 7.45pm and 11.45pm on Wednesday, March 19.
“I would also urge anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour or an altercation on the river bank to please contact the incident room or officers at the scene.”
Officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Mr Lewis, aged 45, in the hours leading up to his death.
The last known sighting of Mr Lewis was at approximately 7.45pm on Wednesday walking along Penarth Road near the Big Yellow Storage opposite the BMW garage.
He was wearing light blue jeans, a navy anorak style jacket, and a light coloured baseball cap with the wording ‘cross hatch’.
He may have been in possession of a black holdall.
An incident room has been set at Cardiff Central Police Station and a police cordon remains at the scene.
Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room in confidence on 02920 571 530, South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting occurrence number 1400093541.
