Grandad’s body washes up in Storm Darragh 11 weeks after he went missing

The body of a grandad who went missing while diving in September appeared on a Cornish beach in the aftermath of Storm Darragh.

Andrew McKnight, 76, disappeared while diving off the coast of Cornwall on Sunday, September 22.

He was a skilled diver and a dive instructor, but this time he failed to resurface.

Despite a search spanning several days, police and the coastguard armed with lifeboats and helicopters found no trace of him.

The ‘extensive’ search had been called off

Then on Sunday, as Storm Darragh blew over, a body was found on Portholland Beach.

It was nine miles from where he went missing off St Anthony Head, near Falmouth.

The body has since been identified as Mr McKnight, from St Austell.

In a statement, his family said: ‘Andy was a highly qualified diver and dive instructor and his death has come as a great shock to all who knew him.

‘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.

‘As a family we ask for privacy at this difficult time as we come to terms with our loss.’

Mr McKnight isn’t the only person whose remains were revealed during the storm that swept Britain with 90mph and battered the coast with huge waves.

Another man’s body was spotted on the beach at Worth Matravers, near Swanage, Dorset, also on Sunday.

His identity and cause of death have not yet been determined.

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