A body has today been found in the Hope Cove area during the search for James Throup, a 33-year-old man from Oxford who was reported missing on Friday.
A major air and land search was launched yesterday (27 June) after police issued an urgent appeal to find James, last seen near the coastal paths of Hope Cove in South Devon.
Today, Saturday 28 June, police confirmed that sadly a body of a man had been located in the Hope Cove area.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file is now being prepared for the coroner. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the family of James Throup has been informed of the discovery.
James, described as 6ft 5in with a ginger beard, was last seen wearing a navy blue t-shirt and blue chinos. He was reported missing around 4.30pm on Friday, prompting a multi-agency search effort involving the police, HM Coastguard teams, Salcombe RNLI, and a Coastguard helicopter.
Specialist search teams, drone units, and police dogs were also deployed throughout Friday night and Saturday morning in a race against time to find James safe.
Hope Cove residents described a strong emergency service presence overnight, with aerial search patterns visible along the coastline. Tragically, today’s development brings the operation to a sombre conclusion.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said:
"The body of a man has been located in the Hope Cove area today, Saturday 28 June.
"His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
"Formal identification is due to take place.
"The family of James Throup, 33, from Oxford, who was reported missing on Friday, 27 June, have been made aware."
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