Holiday turns to heartbreak as body believed to be missing teen Athrun is found off Welsh coast

A desperate four-day search for a missing 16-year-old boy ended in heartbreak on Wednesday evening when police recovered a body from the sea near Llandudno’s West Shore Beach.

The teenager, named only as Athrun, had vanished on Saturday afternoon while on holiday from South Gloucestershire. He was last seen wearing just a pair of swimming shorts, entering the water at around 2pm.

The alarm was raised shortly after, prompting a large-scale, multi-agency search across land, sea and air. North Wales Police worked alongside the coastguard, mountain rescue teams, and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in a frantic attempt to locate the missing boy.

Efforts intensified after what police described as a “potential sighting” of a body in the sea during aerial surveillance on Tuesday evening. Search teams resumed combing the area throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday, focusing on the West Shore area where Athrun was last seen.

At 6.20pm on Wednesday, police confirmed that a body had been recovered from the sea. While formal identification has not yet taken place, officers have informed Athrun’s family and are providing them with specialist support.

The death is not being treated as suspicious. The coroner has been notified and will oversee further proceedings.

The shocking discovery has left the local community and those who joined the search efforts devastated. Tributes have already begun to appear on social media from family friends and holidaymakers who had seen the appeals.

“It’s the outcome we feared. No words can truly express the sorrow we feel for his family,” said one volunteer who helped with beach searches over the weekend.

North Wales Police have praised the efforts of all agencies involved, stating, “We are grateful for the swift response and tireless work of everyone who assisted in the search for Athrun. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time.”

Llandudno, a popular seaside destination, was busy with tourists when Athrun disappeared. Warm weather over the weekend had brought visitors to the shores, and witnesses reported seeing the boy enter the water alone.

It remains unclear how he got into difficulty. There are no suggestions of foul play, and officers have stressed that the case will now be passed on to the coroner for full examination.

This incident marks another tragic loss on Britain’s coastline, highlighting the ongoing dangers of open-water swimming—particularly for teenagers and young people unfamiliar with strong coastal currents.

As the formal identification process continues, the community of South Gloucestershire is expected to hold vigils in honour of the teenager. Schools and local organisations are preparing to offer support to friends and peers affected by the news.

The incident has reignited calls for greater water safety education among young people, especially as summer approaches and more families flock to coastal towns like Llandudno.

In the meantime, the holiday that was meant to be a carefree break by the sea has ended in unimaginable sorrow for one family.