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Body found in search for missing teenage swimmer Ellis Downes

'His death is being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious,' say police

Catherine Wylie
Tuesday 10 May 2016 13:24 BST
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Ellis Downes
Ellis Downes (Downes family)

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Search teams looking for a boy who went missing after going swimming have found a body.

Ellis Downes, 16, had not been seen since around 9pm on Saturday when he was with friends at the River Thames at Culham near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police said divers recovered a body from the river at around 11pm on Monday night.

In a statement, the force said: "Although formal identification has not yet taken place, it is believed to be that of Ellis Downes, aged 16, from Harwell. His family have been informed.

"His death is being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious and the matter is being passed to the coroner."

Police said emergency services attended the scene near The Burycroft, Culham, off the A415 at 9pm on Saturday following a report that a boy had got into difficulty while swimming.

PA

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