A heartbroken girlfriend has paid tribute to her “first proper love” after his tragic death.
John Winterton, 26, was reported missing last week, after disappearing from Sale Road, Wythenshawe, at around 3am on August 18.
Tragically, police confirmed that officers searching for Mr Winterton had found a body on Wednesday evening (August 25).
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His family paid tribute to the “one in a million” man, and now John’s girlfriend Brittany Bennett has spoken about the man she hoped to marry.
Recalling some of her favourite memories, she said: “John always wore his heart on his sleeve, he’d do anything and everything for anyone.
“He loved landscape gardening - he bought a plant from Tesco three Christmases ago and planted it in the garden and it’s grown massive, he was so pleased with it.
“The smallest things made him so happy.
“There was never a dull moment around him at all.
“I just want him home, he was my first real proper love, I want to add more memories to our memory list.”
Brittany and John had been together for almost two and a half years, spending a lot of time together during lockdown.
The pair were looking forward to the future, and had made plans to move to Wales together and get engaged.
John, a keen cyclist, would often take his bike out around Chorlton Marina, cycling everywhere, even if it was just a short walk.
Brittany added: “He went everywhere on the bike.
“He’d even use it to go to his sister’s house which was just a three minute walk away.
“He loved that bike, I was heartbroken that he’s not going to be able to ride his bike anymore or go and explore the marina.”
John’s family issued urgent appeals when he first went missing last week.
The 26-year-old had last been seen on Sale Road, in Wythenshawe, at around 3am on August 18.
Tragically, his body was found a week later at Wythenshawe Park.
Crime Scene Investigation teams and crews from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were spotted at the entrance to the park opposite Rackhouse Road from around 4.30pm on Wednesday, August 25.
Despite her heartbreak, Brittany has a small piece of comfort in one of her cat’s kittens, Patch, as John had named her after deciding to keep her shortly before his death.
Brittany said: “She’s a character, we thought she was a boy when John named her and I know I’m not able to tell him she’s actually a girl but I know deep down that he’s watching.
“He’ll know and he’s always going to be looking down.
“I know he’s going to want me to carry on with my life and be happy, his favourite thing to say was always ‘cheer up it’s nearly Christmas’ - even in February.
“He had everybody there for him, he had his future ahead of him, but he felt like he wasn’t ready to carry on.
“I miss him and I really do want him back but I’ve got to understand that if he was in any pain he’s not anymore, if he was suffering he’s not anymore, he’s at peace now."
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