Body found in search for missing teen who disappeared on holiday
Formal identification is yet to take place, but confirmed Athrun's family have been informed and are receiving support from officers.
A body has been recovered in the search for a 16-year-old boy who vanished while on holiday and visiting a beach in North Wales.
The teenager, named Athrun, disappeared on Saturday afternoon during a visit to West Shore Beach in Llandudno, Conwy. Originally from South Gloucestershire, he had been last seen at around 2pm wearing only swimming shorts, reports the Mirror.
A sighting of a body in the same area was reported on Tuesday evening, triggering a major multi-agency search which concluded tonight when a body was recovered around 6.20pm.
North Wales Police said formal identification is yet to take place, but confirmed Athrun's family have been informed and are receiving support from officers.
The large-scale search effort included police helicopters, coastguard crews, divers from the police underwater search unit, and volunteers from the local community.
Villagers rallied to help, and a nearby Baptist church opened its doors to provide refreshments for emergency workers who searched "through the night" after the initial sighting earlier in the week.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, North Wales Police said: "A body has been recovered this evening during searches for missing 16-year-old Athrun.
"Multi-agency searches resumed this evening, Wednesday May 14th, in the West Shore area of Llandudno following sighting of a body on Tuesday evening.
"Searches conducted by the police underwater search team, NPAS and coastguard resulted in a body being recovered today at 6.20pm.
"Formal identification is yet to take place, but Athrun's family have been informed and are being supported by officers. The death is not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner has been informed."
Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan added: 'My deepest condolences remain with Athrun's family, and I would ask for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly sad and difficult time.
'This is not the outcome anyone hoped for, and I would once again like to thank partner agencies and members of the public for their overwhelming support and tireless assistance with the searches over the last five days.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'My son stayed missing after huge police mistake - it's a miracle he's home now'
Mum Vandana Bhogowoth has spoken of her joy after being reunited with missing teenage son Deante James with help from the Mirror - but is still angry at what she says were errors by police and hospital staff Deante James' mum is overjoyed to have her son back after he went missing for six weeks. Vandana Bhogowoth is now calling for better communication between authorities after several opportunities to find the teenager were missed. The mum. whose teenage son went missing for six weeks, says finding her boy alive is 'a miracle'. Vandana Bhogowoth was told by police that 17-year-old Deante James had been discovered safe in hospital after this newspaper ran her story as part of our Missed campaign. Overjoyed to know he is OK, she says: 'I don't think I'll ever forget that day. It was probably one of the best days of my life. Oh my God, the emotions – I just burst out crying. I've never felt happiness like it. It was pure happiness – and relief.' The single mum thanked the Mirror and Sunday Mirror for running our Missed campaign, which she credits with helping to find him. Bolted Vandana, 36 – who prayed to God for help two days before hearing Deante was found on May 17 – says: 'The publicity made the police take the case more seriously. I'm really thankful to everyone, also my local MP and the Missing People charity, who pushed the police to take it seriously and get him found. I think highlighting it did push them. Everyone collectively helped – thank you. I'm so grateful.' Deante went missing from his home in Enfield, North London, in March after smoking what he thought was a normal cannabis joint. He was unaware that it contained the synthetic cannabinoid Spice, which can cause psychosis. FAMILIES OF THE MISSING Missing people: Facts and Myths Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that's one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal. For adults over 18, going missing isn't illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals. How the Missing People charity Supports Families Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one's appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It's free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left. The Role of Public Appeals Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map. When sharing appeals, it's crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person's right to be forgotten is upheld. By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found. Deante, a normally ambitious boy who loved going to the gym, began hallucinating and hearing voices. His worried family took him to hospital, where doctors had said he had signs of drug-induced psychosis. He received treatment and was on the mend, but back at home he had another episode and on March 31 bolted out of the back door without his mobile phone or any money. Six weeks passed before he was found. Just as Vandana was losing hope, the police called to say he was safe and in hospital. Angry He had been admitted on April 6, but had told staff he was 18, and his parents were not traced. Vandana says: 'I felt extremely relieved and everything after that was just a blur. Me and the rest of the family rushed straight to the hospital. If I could have flown there and got there any quicker I would. I just hugged him. It was like, 'Oh my gosh, it's really you'.' Vandana first told her story to the Mirror on May 11, at which point she did not know whether Deante was dead or alive. She had been told her son had been arrested by British Transport Police three days after he went missing for not being able to pay his tube fare, only for them to let him go. The college teacher now knows that this was because Deante had given his name the wrong way round, and it did not flag him up as missing. She has also learned that police made every effort to obtain historic mobile phone data to identify any associates who might have known where he was and trawled CCTV footage to try to locate him. DEMAND ACTION FOR MISSING PEOPLE Too many missing people are falling through the cracks - harmed while away, and ignored when they return. We need a proper government strategy led by the Home Office, Education, and Health departments to stop this crisis. Right now, there's no real support. People go missing again and again - yet no one's asking why. We're calling for: A new national strategy for missing children and adults Proper support for missing people when they return Investment to stop people going missing in the first place At 10,000 signatures, the government has to respond. At 100,000, it will be debated in Parliament. That's our goal - real action. You can help by signing our petition here. But despite Deante giving the BTP officers his correct date of birth and address, police did not contact her. While Vandana searched, his older sister Jaidaima, 19, created a TikTok video of her and her brother to try to help find him. It was viewed more than 73,000 times. While grateful to the police for finding her son and letting her know he was safe, Vandana still feels that a lack of joined-up communication between the essential services meant he fell through the cracks. She says: 'If I'm honest I am still angry. He was a vulnerable young adult. I don't understand why they just let him go in that condition. They should have shown more of a duty of care. He was a teenager with no money and no phone. Why didn't they phone his parents? "It makes me really upset because I think the [police and hospital] could have saved me and my family this ordeal and the devastation of not knowing where he was. I tried to stay as positive as I could, but at the back of my mind I did have dark thoughts, like, 'What if he's been kidnapped? What if he's dead?'' Hope Deante's case highlights the need for a government strategy led by the Home Office, Education and Health Departments for a more joined-up approach between the different agencies so that missing people do not fall through the cracks – which is one of the demands of our Missed campaign. Every year 170,000 people go missing in the UK and 75,000 of those – almost half – are children under the age of 18. Vandana says: 'I believe 100 per cent that Deante could have been found sooner. I reported him missing on March 31 and if he was in hospital most of that time, why didn't the police know? 'There needs to be a better connection between hospitals and police when it comes to missing people. There could be a lot more missing people in hospital – and their families are out there looking for them. This must be happening to others and it needs to change.' Vandana says Deante is 'absolutely fine' now. The relieved mum adds: 'He's recovering and he's going to get back to his absolute best self, so I'm really happy, positive and extremely grateful to everyone. He's looking forward to getting his life back on track and following his dreams. As a family we can't wait to celebrate his 18th birthday now. We're going to spoil him.' Vandana is keen to continue supporting our Missed campaign, and is speaking out to help other families. What happened to Deante – a sociable, family-loving teenager, who does not normally take drugs or get into trouble – could happen to anyone, she says. She adds: 'If I'm honest I am still angry, because what if it happens again to another family?' To other families left sick with worry for their missing children, Vandana says: 'I'd like to say to other mums in my position, there is hope. Don't give up. I never gave up on finding my son, but I was struggling to even get out of bed, because I was so depressed. After looking for him for weeks, I'd hit a wall. I never thought I'd experience this and I don't wish it on my worst enemy. Hopefully I'll never experience it again.' She wants to send other parents of missing children a message of love and support, saying: 'If your child is missing, stay strong, fight for your rights, speak to your MP and speak to the media. Hopefully, like me, you will get them back. Miracles do happen.' The police and hospital were contacted for comment. • The Mirror is using its platform to launch Missed – a campaign to shine a light on underrepresented public-facing missing persons in the UK via a live interactive map, in collaboration with Missing People Charity. Because every missing person, no matter their background or circumstances, is someone's loved one. And they are always Missed.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Urgent search launched for missing Scots OAP as concerns grow
Police are growing concerned for Barbara Lamond, who vanished from the Craiglockhart area of Edinburgh on Saturday. Police have launched an urgent appeal to help trace an elderly woman who has been reported missing from Edinburgh. Barbara Lamond was last seen around 4pm on Saturday, June 7, in the Craiglockhart View area of the city. Officers are becoming increasingly concerned for the 86-year-old's welfare. She is described as white, around 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build, with short grey hair. When last seen, she was wearing dark trousers, a dark padded coat, and may also have been wearing a light pink woolly hat and glasses. Inspector Alison Lawrie said: 'We want to make sure Barbara is safe and well. She is known to use buses and walk around the Oxgangs area. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 'Anyone who has seen Barbara or who knows where she might be is asked to contact police as soon as possible.' Anyone with information is urged to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 3150 of 7 June 2025. It comes as police also are appealing for help to find teenager Ava Stewart who may have travelled to England alone after she boarded a train from a Scots train station. Ava Stewart from Kilmarnock was last seen at around 1.35pm on Friday, June 6, at Glasgow Central Station. Following enquiries, officers believe she may now be in Birmingham.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Fears for missing Scots schoolgirl believed to have boarded train to England
Police are urgently seeking information to help find 13-year-old Ava Stewart from Kilmarnock. Fears are growing for a missing 13-year-old girl who may have travelled to England alone after she boarded a train from a Scots train station. Ava Stewart from Kilmarnock was last seen at around 1.35pm on Friday, June 6, at Glasgow Central Station. Following enquiries, officers believe she may now be in Birmingham. Ava is described as slim, around 4ft 11in tall, with long brown hair. When last seen, she was wearing white tracksuit bottoms, a grey crop top, a blue denim jacket, and blue and cream Nike Air Jordan trainers. She also has a lip and nose piercing, as well as a distinctive coloboma feature in her left eye. Police Scotland is appealing for information to trace Ava and have said "concerns" are growing for her welfare. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Sergeant Lana Grant said: 'Concerns are growing for Ava and it is important we make sure she is safe and well. "We are asking anyone who has seen her or has any information on her whereabouts to please get in touch.' Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 3105 of 6 June 2025.
