Body of Swansea dad was 'found by friends in area searched by police', inquest told

A man who went missing after a night out was discovered dead by his friends in an area of dense woodland which had already been searched by police, an inquest has heard.

Relatives of Andrew Wilcox had contacted police after receiving a text message from him after he failed to return home the following day.

An inquest into the death of 32-year-old Mr Wilcox held at Swansea's Guildhall heard how he enjoyed his job as a lorry driver and spent all his free time with his family.

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The inquest heard that Mr Wilcox had been on a night out with friends on Saturday July 3.

The following day, a friend located the car he had driven the night before, containing some personal effects, on Clarion Close in Llansamlet.

Police were contacted and a search, which included police dogs and use of a drone, was launched in the area surrounding where the vehicle had been found.

Despite extensive examination of the surrounding dense woodland, it was not until the following day that friends discovered Mr Wilcox's body, approximately 50 metres away from the vehicle. A shopping bag containing his mobile phone, which was switched off, was also discovered.

'An utter tragedy'

Assistant coroner Edward Ramsay concluded that having consumed alcohol and other drugs, "it may have effected his mental state" and added: "It is obvious in my opinion from the circumstantial evidence that for whatever reason Andrew tragically decided to [undertake] a deliberate act, in an area away from obvious view.

"My sincere sympathies and condolences to the family for what is an utter tragedy. You have sat through proceedings with a huge amount of dignity and I am terribly sorry for your loss".