Tragic news emerged on Christmas Day as the body of missing 19-year-old student, Tom Dingle, was discovered in woodland. Tom, hailing from Lancashire, had been missing since the early hours of December 13th. Despite extensive search efforts, his body was found by a dog walker during the holiday.
Lancashire Police have stated that while formal identification is pending, they believe the body to be Tom’s. Heartbreakingly, they have also confirmed that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Tom’s family, who have been living through an unimaginable ordeal, have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. Authorities are urging everyone to respect their privacy during this devastating time.
A prior search effort included releasing CCTV footage of Tom’s last known movements in Appley Bridge. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly situations can change and how crucial community support and information sharing can be in such searches.
This isn’t the outcome anyone hoped for, and our thoughts are with Tom’s family and friends. Thank you to everyone who helped in the search. Let’s hold Tom’s memory close and support those he leaves behind.