Tributes paid to diver after body found on beach

A smiling man with a grey hair and moustache in diving gear.Image source, McKnight Family
Image caption,

Andrew McKnight's family said the highly-qualified diver was much-loved and would be deeply missed

  • Published

The family of a man who died while diving off the Cornish coast have paid tribute to him after his body was found on a nearby beach.

Andrew McKnight, 76, from St Austell, went missing in September while he was diving off St Anthony Head near Falmouth.

A major search lasting several days failed to find him, but his body washed up on Portholland Beach, about 9 miles (15km) from his last-known location on Sunday.

His family said he was "a much-loved husband, father and grandfather and he will deeply missed by all his family".

They said he was a "highly-qualified diver and dive instructor and his death has come as a great shock to all who knew him".

The family added: "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."

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