The body of a scuba diver who went missing off Cornwall on 22 September has been found on a beach about 15km from his last-known location. The man has been identified as Andrew McKnight, described as a highly qualified diver and instructor.
McKnight, 76, from St Austell, had been diving east of St Anthony Head near Falmouth when he was reported as not having returned to the dive-boat just after mid-day, as reported on Divernet.
Also read: Diver’s body found in North Wales
A major search and rescue operation failed to locate the then-unidentified diver, but on 8 December his body was spotted washed up on Portholland Beach.
“Andy was a highly qualified diver and dive instructor and his death has come as a great shock to all who knew him,” the McKnight family has stated. “He was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather and he will deeply missed by all his family.
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the South-west diving community, Devon & Cornwall Police, the RNLI, the Coastguard and all others who gave their time to search for him for the past 11 weeks.”
Also on Divernet: Diver missing in Falmouth Bay, How many divers has 200-year-old RNLI saved?, RNLI 200: Life-savers take a moment, Behind the scenes at the RNLI HQ
