Aslan King: Missing Briton found dead near Australian campsite Published duration 26 November 2019

image copyright Victoria Police image caption Aslan King went missing early on Saturday after suffering a suspected seizure

Missing British man Aslan King has been found dead three days after he disappeared while camping, Australian police have confirmed.

Mr King, 25, had been away with friends in a popular tourist region in Victoria when he was last seen on Saturday.

His body was found about a kilometre (0.6 miles) away in a creek. Victoria Police said the cause of his death was under investigation.

An illustrator from Brighton, Mr King relocated to Australia two weeks ago.

His body was identified by two of his travelling partners, who were close friends, Victoria Police Sgt Danny Brown said.

Authorities said Mr King had been with four friends when he hit his head on the ground about 02:00 local time on Saturday (15:00 GMT Friday) and suffered a suspected seizure.

He then suddenly ran into surrounding bushland and may have been disoriented, police said.

Search crews had scoured the coastal area near Princetown - not far from the Twelve Apostles tourist site - since Sunday.

image copyright Nine News Australia image caption Officers searched for Mr King using a helicopter, horses, boats, motorcycles and sniffer dogs

Police said Mr King's behaviour on Saturday had appeared to be out of character.

"This is why it made it so hard for us [to search] because there was no intelligence to suggest why he left or where he went," Sgt Danny Brown said on Tuesday, according to a report by the Herald Sun

"His behaviour took everyone by surprise. By all accounts he was very fit, physically and mentally."

Officers said the search was difficult because of the thick vegetation, rocky clifftops and deep coastal waters in the region.

Sgt Brown said Mr King's friends would be offered counselling.

"They have suffered a trauma as well by losing their friend in the beginning and the worry that goes with that," he said.

"And now to have two friends formally identify one of their own, one of their good close friends, and they have been friends for a lot of years, is traumatic on its own."

Neil Trotter, mayor of Corangamite Shire, said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of Aslan. We feel for his family and friends."

He said his friends were "understandably traumatised", and that be believes Mr King's mother is en route to Australia.

"We feel for her having to do what no parent would ever wish to do," he added.

The Foreign Office said it was in close contact with Australian police and was supporting Mr King's family.

"Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time," a spokeswoman said.

Police said they would prepare a report for the coroner.

Related Topics Brighton

Australia

Victoria