Police believe they have discovered the body of a 20-year-old Basildon man who was swept out to sea while on holiday in Cornwall.

James Burnett, from Loxford, Felmores, Basildon, was washed off rocks in Fox Cove, Treyarnon Bay, near Padstow, when he and his girlfriend were hit by a freak wave at around 1.30pm on August 9.

A body, thought to be that of Mr Burnett, was found swept up on a beach at Constantine Bay, Cornwall, at around 6.30am yesterday.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Early indications are that it is the body of James Burnett.

"His family have been informed of the discovery and the coroner has also been informed. However, formal identification has not yet taken place."

An extensive lifeboat, Falmouth Coastguard and Royal Navy helicopter search of the area was launched after James went missing, but failed to find any sign of the university student.

Published Thursday August 19, 2004

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