Fisherman's body identified

Police have confirmed that the body of a man retrieved from the sea off the Cumbrian coast in July was that of a missing fisherman.

Sam Archer, 66, was reported missing after he failed to return the Isle of Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, from a fishing trip on 13 March this year.

He had been spotted fishing in Wigtown Bay on his 32-foot Solway Hunter vessel but failed to return.

A number of sea and shore based searches were carried out but failed to find Mr Archer, although debris was found floating in the water four miles from shore as well as washed up on the shoreline

Post-mortem

His body was eventually found in the sea off Whitehaven in Cumbria on 5 July.

Dumfries and Galloway Police confirmed on Tuesday it was Mr Archer.

A post-mortem examination has been carried and reports are being submitted to the coroner.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding this death and the body has been released to the family.