A body found deep in the Chilean Atacama desert has today (November 17) been confirmed as that of a British astronomer, weeks after he went missing.
Warwick University Professor Tom Marsh, 60, went missing on September 16, with a body found in the desert last week.
On Thursday (November 17), it was confirmed to be Tom's after the gruelling eight-week search.
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Professor Marsh had been working at the La Silla observatory, in Chile's Atacama Desert, as a visiting astronomer.
Following the news of his disappearance, his family are understood to have travelled to Chile to aid in finding him.
Warwick University confirmed last week that a body had been found during the search, based on reports from local authorities, which described the operation as an "intense search".
Taking to Twitter, local police said the body had been found around three miles from the observatory where Professor Marsh had been based.
Police have paid their respects to his bereaved family, the Mirror reports.
A post on an online community page about the academic said: "It’s the news we had all been dreading over the last two agonising months."
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A spokesperson for Warwick University said in a statement: "This is deeply distressing news for Tom's family and our thoughts are of course with them, along with his colleagues and our wider community.
"And we realise it's particularly difficult while people are waiting for formal identification to take place.
"I know what a terrible time this is for the colleagues who knew Tom and counted him as a close friend as well as an inspirational academic and mentor.
"For anyone who has been impacted by today's news, please do use the well-being support that's there to help you during this difficult time.
"We will keep you updated with any further developments."
A spokesperson for the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man missing in Chile and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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