Following the discovery of a body in the River Dart on 7th August 2016 formal identification has now been carried out and police can confirm the body found is that of missing teenager Nathan Wood.
Nathan, aged 16, from Paignton was reported missing to police on Friday 5 August. He was last seen in the Swallowfields area of the town, heading towards the River Dart, at around 6pm. Local officers searched the area for Nathan since Friday evening, with assistance from police dogs, a police helicopter, the Coastguard, volunteers from Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group and divers from Devon and Cornwall Police and Avon and Somerset Police.
Members of Nathan’s family have released the following tributes.
Mum Mandi Retter: “He liked hanging out with his mates, he loved his girlfriend and planned to stay with her and have kids so she’s in bits now as she sees her life as being completely different to what she imagined. He had gotten onto a college course, he was really looking forward to it.”
Grandmother, Margaret Retter: “The last time I saw him it was just wonderful. I was coming up the path last weekend and he just leaned out the bedroom window shouting ‘hi grandma’, I’ll be down in a minute. It’s the last memory I have of him. He was just full of life and loving, it was a lovely memory.”
Brother Daniel added: “He did love people so much. He couldn’t express it enough. Everyone that knew him thought he was funny. “
DC James Brice from Devon and Cornwall police said: “This is a very tragic incident involving the loss of life of a young man with his future ahead of him. The impact of this will not only affect Nathan’s immediate social peer group and family but also the wider youth community of Totnes.”
An online fund has been set up to help with the costs of Nathan’s funeral, anyone wishing to donate can do so here: https://wearesouthdevon.com/funeral-fund-nathan-wood/
The local church – St John’s in Bridgtown, Totnes is holding a memorial afternoon for Nathan on Tuesday 16th August 2016 between 1pm and 4pm where anyone can drop in and light a candle, leave flowers and have a chat and a cup of tea.
There will be pastoral, bereavement support on hand if needed.
If there is anyone with any information, who has not already spoken to the police, please call 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting log 775 of 5th August 2016.
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