Body in sea is dead boy's father

Alan Watkins was seen entering the sea in his dinghy with his son

A body recovered by lifeboat crews has been confirmed as that of a missing father of a young boy who also died in the English Channel.

The search for Alan Watkins, 50, from Southwark, south-east London, began after his son Arun, two, was found off Littlehampton, West Sussex, on Sunday.

Police said Mr Watkins' body was spotted off the West Sussex coast on Tuesday afternoon by a kite surfer.

It was found close to where he was seen launching a dinghy with Arun on Sunday.

Police inquiries are continuing into the unexplained deaths of both Arun and his father.

He was my raison d'etre, my very reason to live Sheena Basnayake

Earlier, Arun's mother Sheena Basnayake said her son was "a beautiful, adventurous, and loving little boy".

In a statement issued through Sussex Police, she said her son made "an unforgettable impact" on everyone who met him.

The 35-year-old woman said Arun was "treasured by his father and I".

She said: "He enjoyed nothing more than running about in the fresh air and playing with his friends.

"He loved the water, and would always be excited if he was going on an adventure with his Dad; no less so on Sunday."

Emergency teams recovered a body (picture from Trevor Coffey)

And she said: "I cannot find words to describe the impact of his loss.

"All I can say is that he was my raison d'etre, my very reason to live, and now I need time to learn to understand, remember, and be left to grieve in peace."

On Tuesday, police officers said Mr Watkins had been on "a pre-arranged day out with his son".

The results of a post-mortem examination on Arun were expected to be released later.

Reported missing

A 5ft-long dinghy, containing nappies and a child's armbands, was found drifting in the sea close to where his body was found it is thought Arun was with his father when he went missing.

A member of the public is believed to have seen them entering the sea on their dinghy at Sea Road, Littlehampton, between 1630 and 1700 BST on Sunday.

Police have urged any witnesses who may have seen Mr Watkins pushing the dinghy out to sea to contact them.

Police said Mr Watkins and his son were reported missing by his wife from their London home late on Sunday night, and a caravanette registered to him was found parked in Sea Road.

Det Ch Insp Adam Hibbert said Arun had on a sunblock suit but was not wearing a buoyancy aid.