Body found in search for Hampshire pensioner, 68, who had been missing since Friday

Peter Arthur, 68, was last seen at home in Lee-on-the-Solent at 2pm on Friday.

His family had not heard from him since then. Police believe he may have visited Browndown or the Alver Valley Country Park.

Hampshire police had appealed for help finding him following a major search on Saturday evening involving HM Coastguard in Lee-on-the-Solent.

On Sunday a spokeswoman said: ‘Officers searching for missing Peter Arthur from Lee-on-the-Solent have this afternoon found a body.

‘Formal identification has not yet taken place, but his family have been informed and are being supported by officers.

‘The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.’

Earlier she said his family and officers were ‘extremely concerned for his welfare and officers have been making extensive enquiries as to his whereabouts’.

HM Coastguard was contacted by police just after 5pm on Saturday to help police with the search.

Portsmouth and Hill Head Coastguard teams were joined by the Gosport and Fareham independent lifeboat (Gafirs), RNLI lifeboats from Cowes and Calshot and the Lee-on-the-Solent search and rescue helicopter.

A spokeswoman for HM Coastguard said: ‘At 5.10pm (on Saturday) Hampshire Constabulary requested the assistance of HM Coastguard with a search. The Coastguard Rescue Teams from Portsmouth and Hill Head, the RNLI lifeboats from Cowes and Calshot.

‘The Gosport and Fareham independent lifeboat and the Lee-on-the-Solent search and rescue helicopter supported the search in the Solent area.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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