I wonder how he passed away: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/police-recover-body-from-canal-in-hatton-1-8598882

We regularly have bodies found in the local canal. Many do not make the press.

A few weeks back I enquired about an experienced boater I'd not seen for a while, only to be informed that he was found floating face down. I believe he had consumed rather a lot of alcohol and was making his way back to his boat along an unlit towpath.

I was having a drink in a local canal-side pub when a floater was pulled out. The police were there pretty quickly with forensics but I believe it was found to be accidental.

One publican's wife threw herself in, but then found she could stand up! I believe she ended up in a psychiatric unit.

If you want a real conspiracy story about canals and drownings, google the Manchester canal pusher. - There's an interesting Kindle book (often free) that uses it as a back-drop.