Police have confirmed the recovery of a man's body from the River Exe in Devon, bringing a tragic conclusion to the search for a kayaker who went missing last month.
Extensive Search Operation Launched
Devon and Cornwall Police were first alerted to concerns for a man in his 40s who had encountered difficulties while kayaking near the Great Western Bridge in Tiverton on 24 January. The disappearance prompted a significant emergency service response, with officers, firefighters, and ambulance crews converging on the riverside shortly after 5.30pm that Saturday.
Kayak Recovered During Initial Efforts
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the man's kayak was located and retrieved as part of the initial search operations. This discovery intensified the efforts to find the missing individual, with teams scouring the river and surrounding areas over the following days.
Body Retrieved from the Water
After an extensive search lasting several days, a spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed on Thursday that a body had been retrieved from the River Exe. While formal identification procedures are still pending, the family of the missing kayaker has been informed of this development.
The police spokeswoman stated: “Formal identification has yet to take place but the family of the missing kayaker – a man in his 40s – has been made aware of this development.”
The incident has cast a sombre mood over the local community, with authorities continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the kayaker's disappearance and subsequent recovery.
