Body on beach is missing diver

Dr Lupini was diving off the coast of Port Eynon when he disappeared

The body of a man washed up on a Welsh beach has been identified as a diver who went missing off Gower.

GP Dr Nicholas Lupini, who was 58, disappeared while diving off Port Eynon just over two weeks ago.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed on Monday that the body, discovered on Friday on Pembrey Sands, is that of the missing doctor.

He was head of practice at the Ty Elli group practice in Llanelli and had been diving for 25 years.

Dr Lupini, who leaves a widow and two sons, disappeared while out on a dive with the Carmarthen Bay Divers' Club, of which he was chair, on 1 August.

Fellow divers watched in horror as struggled with his equipment before disappearing below the surface.

I have dived with Nick and never known anyone as fastidious as he is Lifeboatman Owain Davies

Three lifeboats, police divers and a police helicopter were called in to search for Dr Lupini but the search was called off after three days.

Fellow diver Dr Michael O'Kane who had known the GP for more than 20 years said he was " a very, very experienced diver".

"Something happened to his kit before he could get it on.

"He was a very meticulous diver, very careful, it just shows there is always the danger of something happening."

Dr O'Kane, a GP in Swansea, said Dr Lupini's family were very relieved that his body had been found.

As a member of the UK Sports Diving Medical Committee, Dr Lupini had examined fellow divers to check if they were fit to undertake the sport.