The family of a missing 19-year-old student have suffered Christmas Day heartbreak after police confirmed his body had been found.
Lancashire Police had been desperately searching for Tom Dingle when a call from a member of the public on Christmas Day saw them called to woodland in Dalton. The member of the public had found a body and called police at around 3:12pm. Tom, from Wigan, had last been seen walking alone in the early hours of December 13.
No formal identification has been made, police confirmed, but they heartbreakingly believe it is the body of Tom.
Lancashire Police say Tom’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be passed to HM Coroner, reports the MEN.
(Image: Lancashire Police)
In a statement, Lancashire Police said: “We have a tragic update to give you in our search for missing student Tom Dingle.
“At 3.12pm on Christmas Day we were contacted by a member of the public who had found a man deceased in woodland off Lees Lane in Dalton.
“Although no formal identification has taken place, we believe it to be the body of 19-year-old Tom. Tom’s family have been informed, and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Our thoughts are very much with them at this extremely distressing time. We would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with this devastating news.
“Tom’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course.
“This is not the outcome anybody wanted. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who shared our appeals for information.”
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