Police searching for missing student Harry Martin confirm a body found in sea

The identity of the body has not been confirmed

Harry Martin (Devon and Cornwall Police)

Police searching for 18-year-old Harry Martin, who went missing last week after going out to take photographs of stormy seas, have found a body.

The student, who was studying film and television production at Greenwich University, left his family home in Devon at noon during a powerful storm on 2 January and was last seen walking towards a coastal path.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed coastguards found a body in the sea.

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

Harry's family and friends started a new search for him this 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, 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, coastguards, the inshore and offshore lifeboats and a rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor were involved.

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