Body found in water during search for George, 18, who vanished from Portishead 11 days ago

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

Avon and Somerset Police announced on Sunday morning that a body had been recovered from coastal waters near Newport, Wales, ending an 11-day search for George, an 18-year-old last seen in Portishead at around 8.20pm on 17 September. The clothing on the body matched what George had been wearing when he disappeared. Formal identification has not yet taken place, and police are not treating the death as suspicious.

George's family have been informed and are receiving support from a specially trained officer.

In the days following George's disappearance from the Somerset seaside town, police, coastguard, RNLI and other emergency services conducted a large-scale search.

George's family, whom police described as showing remarkable "strength and resilience", have asked for their privacy to be respected.