Teenager vanished while on holiday with family
A body has been recovered from the sea off the coast of North Wales in the search for 16-year-old Athrun, who went missing while on holiday in Llandudno. The teenager, from South Gloucestershire, was last seen entering the water at West Shore Beach at around 2pm on Saturday.
Wearing only a pair of swimming shorts, Athrun disappeared while enjoying the warm weather with family and friends. Despite extensive search efforts over five days, including drones, police helicopters, lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams, there had been no sign of him until Tuesday night.
Body spotted during aerial search
A potential sighting of a body in the water was made during a National Police Air Service flight on Tuesday evening. This prompted renewed overnight efforts involving the coastguard and North Wales Police, followed by further searches on Wednesday.
At 6.20pm on Wednesday evening, a body was recovered from the sea near the West Shore area. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but police confirmed Athrun’s family have been informed. They are being supported by specialist officers.
Death not being treated as suspicious
North Wales Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner has been informed. The focus of the investigation will now shift to establishing the full circumstances of the incident, including how and why Athrun entered the water and whether any factors may have contributed to his death.
Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan issued a heartfelt statement following the discovery, saying: “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.”
Community left in shock
News of the discovery has devastated the local community and those back in Athrun’s hometown. A major multi-agency operation had been launched shortly after his disappearance, with dozens of volunteers joining the professional search effort along the coastline.
Tributes and messages of sympathy have begun appearing online, as locals and visitors express sorrow over the loss of a young life during what should have been a joyful holiday.
Formal identification and a post-mortem are expected in the coming days.
