A body has been discovered during the search for a 19-year-old university student who went missing in Lancashire two weeks ago.
Discovery on Christmas Day
The discovery was made on Christmas Day by a member of the public walking through a wooded area. The body is believed to be that of Tom Dingle, from Appley Bridge, who was last seen on 19 December.
Tom was captured on CCTV heading towards the Boathouse Pub in Dalton. Formal identification procedures are still pending, but Lancashire Police have stated they believe the body is his.
A Family's Heartbreaking Plea
Prior to the tragic discovery, Tom's family had made emotional appeals for his safe return. His mother, Susan, described her son as being in a 'vulnerable state of mind' following a traumatic event and said the family was 'going out of our minds with worry'.
'We just want him home as soon as possible,' she told a press conference. 'We've even put a note on the front door so he knows he can just walk in. We're just here to love and protect him.'
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
Lancashire Police have confirmed that Tom's death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner.
In a statement, the force said: 'Our thoughts are very much with them at this extremely distressing time. This is not the outcome anybody wanted. We would ask that their privacy is respected.'
Officers also thanked the public for their assistance in sharing appeals for information during the search.
Tom was a student at Lancaster University. The news comes shortly after another student, 20-year-old Aryan Sharma, was found in the River Soar in Leicestershire almost a month after he went missing in November.
