North Wales Police give major update in search for pal of tragic Blackpool kayaker Connor Parfitt
“This is not the outcome any of us had hoped for, including the teams involved in the searches.”
The body of a man missing in North Wales has been found three days after his pal Connor Parfitt, from Blackpool, was found dead on a beach in Aberystwyth.
North Wales police confirmed the body has been identified as Simon Wilson, who was last seen with Connor in Pwllheli, believed to be heading to the beach with an inflatable kayaks.
After failing to return from the beach a six day police search was launched for the pair and on Sunday, Connor’s body was discovered 36 miles away.
Simon’s body was tragically found in the sea near Llwyngwril, Gwynedd yesterday.
A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: “A second man's body has sadly been discovered during searches for two missing people.
“Officers were called at around 7.20pm yesterday, July 29, to reports of a body being found in the sea near to Llwyngwril, Gwynedd.
“The man has now been identified as Simon Wilson, one of the men who we circulated as missing from Pwllheli last week.
“Simon’s family and the coroner have been informed.”
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Chief Inspector Stephen Pawson said: “I share my deepest condolences with Simon’s family at this incredibly difficult time.
“This is not the outcome any of us had hoped for, including the teams involved in the searches.
“Thank you to partner agencies, volunteers and members of the public who assisted in our searches.
“We would request that both Simon and Connor’s family’s privacy are respected.”
Connor, 24, had taken up a job at the nearby Haven Holidays site three weeks ago and was dreaming of a new bright future.
His devastated friends and family left heartfelt tributes to him, saying he had a heart of gold.
Peter Blake, Chief Operating Officer at Haven Holidays where Connor had been working said: “We’re deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with Connor’s loved ones at this terribly difficult time.”
A major multi-agency search was launched, including police and HM Coastguard, when the pair went missing shortly after noon on Thursday July 23.
However the search was eventually scaled down.