BODY FOUND IN WATER DURING SEARCH FOR MISSING 18-YEAR-OLD GEORGE AFTER 10-DAY SEARCH

A body has been recovered from coastal waters near Newport, Wales, during the search for an 18-year-old man who disappeared from Portishead more than 10 days ago.

Police said the clothing worn by the man matched the clothes George was wearing when he was last seen, but a formal identification process is still required.

George, who is from Portishead in Somerset, was last seen at around 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, in the Woodlands Road and Pier Road area of the seaside town.

According to Avon and Somerset Police, George had been near the Royal Inn pub, off Pier Road, shortly before he disappeared.

He had links to both Portishead and nearby Clevedon and was believed to have been travelling on foot.

At the time of the original appeal, George was described as white, approximately 5ft 7ins tall, with short brown hair.

He was wearing a black Gymshark hoodie, black Gymshark jogging bottoms and grey-and-orange Yeezy Boost trainers. Police also released footage showing him leaving his home in the hope that members of the public might recognise his clothing.

LARGE-SCALE SEARCH LAUNCHED

George’s disappearance prompted an extensive search operation involving police officers, firefighters, Coastguard teams, the RNLI and the National Police Air Service.

Specialist search officers, drone and dog units were deployed as teams searched areas around Woodlands Road, the nearby beach and surrounding locations.

Police also carried out CCTV checks and house-to-house inquiries and appealed for members of the public with relevant doorbell-camera or dashcam footage to come forward.

Investigators were particularly interested in speaking with people who had been walking along the beach around the time George disappeared, including a man who may have seen or spoken to him that evening.

Members of the public also joined the search effort, with people searching day and night in an attempt to help locate George.

However, police repeatedly warned volunteers not to put themselves in danger by searching areas of mud, rocky ground or locations at height.

Detective Chief Inspector James Wasiak thanked members of the public for helping with the investigation and said specialist search teams were being used to reach difficult locations safely.

BODY RECOVERED NEAR NEWPORT

The search took a heartbreaking turn on Sunday morning, September 27.

Avon and Somerset Police said they were informed that a body had been recovered from water at a coastal location near Newport.

The discovery was made after around 10 days of searching for George.

Police said the clothing worn by the deceased man matched the clothing George had been wearing when he was last seen in Portishead.

Despite that match, officers stressed that the man’s identity has not yet been formally confirmed.

A formal identification process will now be carried out.

George’s family have been informed of the discovery and are being supported by a specially trained officer.

Police said the death is not currently being treated as suspicious and that the case will be passed to the coroner.

FAMILY ASKED FOR PRIVACY

Throughout the search, George’s family had appealed for information that could help br