Charity seeks help to identity body of Salcombe Man

Locate International, the charity behind The Missing podcast, is seeking help to investigate the death of a man found in the English Channel in September 2021.

He was wearing a wetsuit and was found on Thursday, 23 September 2021, located 46 miles southwest of the seaside town of Salcombe in Devon (hence his moniker Salcombe Man). Analysis of tidal flow patterns conducted in the past year suggests he may have entered the sea anywhere along the southern coast of Cornwall, between Land’s End and Plymouth, Devon.

Locate International believes he was involved in watersports, and may not have been very experienced. He is estimated to have been in the water for seven to 10 days prior to being found – between Monday, 13 September 2021 and Thursday, 16 September 2021 (just after Emma Raducanu won the US Open).

The man was a white European male of medium build, between 5’7″ and 5’10” tall (170 – 178cm) and between 20 and 40 years of age. He had no scars, tattoos, or distinguishing marks, though he had a white crown on his right-lower molar tooth. Reports at the time said he had dark hair on his body and was wearing a 3mm full-length ZCCO neoprene wetsuit with a diagonal zip (size medium), coupled with Slinx neoprene socks, neoprene shoes (size 9) and Slinx neoprene gloves (size medium).

“The key to solving this case might come from just one person who remembers one small detail,” says Dave Grimstead, Locate International’s CEO and founder.

“Did you know anyone who was discussing taking part in surfing, paddleboarding, sea swimming or coasteering and that you’ve lost touch with? Or did you meet anyone in Cornwall during 2021 who had discussed doing this on their own?

“Maybe there was someone you knew who was travelling to Devon or Cornwall in September 2021, and you haven’t heard from since? Or maybe you knew someone who owned or bought the items he was wearing?

“No detail is too small, because it can help point our investigation in a new direction, or support information we have already received, so we encourage anyone who may be able to help to come forward.”

Details of how to pass on information are on Locate International’s website.