by Alan Quick

DEVON and Cornwall Police said today, March 29, that it has located the body of a man during the search for Peter Giles from Newton St Cyres.

Officers were concerned for the welfare of Mr Giles (70), who was reported missing on March 8.

His Land Rover Discovery was found in an area known locally as “Newton Rec” in Newton St Cyres and police carried out detailed searches of the area.

The body of a man was located in the River Creedy in Newton St Cyres on March 24.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that formal identification has not yet been carried out, but the family of Mr Giles has been informed.

In the statement released by the Police, it said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

MAJOR SEARCH

A major search operation took place at Newton St Cyres, during the evening of Wednesday, March 8 and the following day, after Mr Giles was reported as missing.

A member of the public reported him missing at about 7pm and a full-scale search involving all partner agencies was begun.

This included fire crews from Crediton, specialist Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue teams, Dartmoor Rescue teams, Ambulance crews, local Neighbourhood Police officers and specialist police and ambulance teams, including dog units.

The Devon and Cornwall Police helicopter was also involved in the search during the Wednesday evening.

At 10.50pm the Exeter-based police helicopter crew confirmed it had been called up and had returned to base but that fellow police officers and other search specialists remained at the scene.

Divers and boats from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue and the Okehampton Division of the Dartmoor Rescue Group were used to search the river Creedy in the area during the night.

Roads were closed from Sweetham, towards Shobrooke and from the A377 at Newton St Cyres to the area near Newton St Cyres Recreation Ground.

The Land Rover Discovery was not moved from its position atop the river bridge while the search continued, resulting in no vehicle movements across the bridge.

Devon and Cornwall Police Sgt Emma Storey-Barrett, the Force Lost Person Search Manager, speaking to the “Crediton Courier” at the scene at midnight on the Wednesday, said that the search was “still a negative”.

She added: “With our partner agencies we have conducted a water search as well as a land search in the area.

“A member of the public reported the vehicle parked on the bridge. We are searching to ascertain the welfare of the elderly gentleman.”

She thanked all those who had been involved in the search until that time and said it was anticipated that the search would resume in daylight.

More than 100 people were involved in the search operation during the evening.

After midnight the search was scaled down.

The search resumed fully the next morning and involved divers and boats from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue and the Ashburton Division of the Dartmoor Rescue Group, a total of more than 40 people.

Police officers and police dog units were also involved in the search and the Force helicopter was used again a few days later.