The body of a missing Somerset granddad has been found in Benidorm, after he disappeared five months ago while on holiday.
Phil Pearce, from Bridgwater, vanished after leaving a police station in Costa Blanca during the early hours of September 10 last year.
Son Lee confirmed the tragic news through a public statement, reports the Mirror.
He said: “To our saddest regrets we can confirm that our dad Phil Pearce has been found deceased in Benidorm.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all for the support you have given to our family.”
He added: “Can I please ask that our family is left to grieve at this very sad and very hard time.”
Missing posters put up around the time the 68-year-old went missing described him as “friendly but confused and disorientated".
He was said to have been drinking in the Rambo bar in Benidorm’s old town the night he vanished.
His family had previously said Phil had early onset dementia and suffered from memory loss.
He went missing during a period of storms and flash floods in the area, although it is not believed to have been raining heavily in the Spanish resort on the night he disappeared.
In January, his family criticised Spanish police over their failure to release CCTV showing him leaving the police station.
Lee said he had been told he must go to court to obtain the footage.
The BBC quoted him as saying: “Spanish police have been a big let-down.
“They have told me data protection rules mean we can’t get the CCTV. They say we need to go to court.
“ Avon & Somerset Police have been brilliant, and have helped us since day one, but the Spanish police have put the phone down on them and haven’t replied to their emails.”
