A FAMILY are mourning “one of the good guys” after their hopes of finding him were dashed when a body was discovered in the sea off the Isles of Scilly.

A full scale search was mounted after Staplegrove man Josh Clayton, aged 23, disappeared in the early hours of Sunday, September 13 following a party on the tiny island of Tresco, where he was working.

His family flew to Tresco to assist the search, but their worst fears were realised last Wednesday when a lifeboat crew recovered a body off the nearby island of Tean.

The dead man, whose body is being repatriated to the mainland, has not been officially identified and a police investigation is underway, while the Coroner has been informed.

Josh, who took his personal licence for the hospitality trade after leaving Heathfield Community School and worked in Pizza Express in Taunton and other locations, had been enjoying his second stint in a Tresco restaurant.

His brother, Ashley Cox, said: “It’s one thing to lose somebody close to you, another to lose them in these circumstances.

“There are many questions, but no answers – we don’t know how he met his fate and ended up in the sea.

“It’s tough because there’s no door to walk through to close.”

Mr Cox said his mother and the rest of the family were grateful to the officials and volunteers who joined the eight-day search and is asking for anyone offering to help to make a donation to the Cornwall Search and Rescue Team.

He added: “There was a considerable amount of hope that we’d find him when family members went out to join the search, but it was hard when it was called off and we left the island before he was found.

“We were then home in Taunton for two or three days and heard nothing until last Wednesday.”

Josh was born and brought up in the Taunton area, attending a number of primary schools before going to Heathfield.

Mr Cox said as a youngster Josh enjoyed going out on his bike exploring before working in restaurants in various parts of the country and ski hosting in France and Italy for a season.

He had planned to travel to Japan for the ski season in November before returning to Tresco next March.

“He enjoyed life and was at the top of his life,” added Mr Cox.

“He had lots of friends. He loved his life and loved his friends.

“He was a social animal. Wherever he went he was prepared to talk to people, he got on with people and found the best in everyone.

“He was happy-go-lucky, one of the good guys.”

A police spokesman said no formal identification has yet taken place, although Josh’s family have been informed of developments and inquiries are ongoing.

Mike Nellams, of Tresco estate, said staff were “very sad”, adding: “We're actually a very tight community in the nicest sense.

“Everybody wanted to help and assist - sadly the outcome wasn't for the best but it wasn't for the lack of trying."