Devon police find body in search for missing student

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/11/devon-police-find-body-search

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Police searching for a university student who went missing after going out to take pictures of stormy seas have found a body. Harry Martin, 18, left his home at noon on 2 January and was last seen walking towards a coastal path near to his home in south Devon.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police confirmed a body had been found in the sea by coastguards.

"We were informed by coastguards at about 10.40 this morning," a spokesman said. "I must stress that the body has not been identified at this stage."

Harry's family and friends began a new search for him on Saturday morning, leaving Noss Mayo village hall at 8am. A Facebook group, called Search for Harry Martin, had 136 people listed as attending.

Police and up to 100 members of the public had previously joined searches for the photography student, described as 5ft 11ins tall, of slim build with short dark hair and blue eyes.

Extensive searches of a 20-mile stretch of coastline, 10 miles either side of Harry's home, were carried out by police and emergency services.

Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service, the Urban Search and Rescue Group, Dartmoor Rescue Group, HMCG, the inshore and offshore lifeboats and the rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor were involved.

On Saturday, police said the search was moving from "an active stage to a responsive one" after exhaustive searches involving many officers and specialist resources.

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