Police find body during search for missing postman Dex Johnston

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A body has been found during the search for missing postman Dex Johnston, police have confirmed.

Dex disappeared in the early hours of Sunday morning near Exe Bridges and his friends and family have been searching for four days, along with police divers and the force helicopter.

Devon and Cornwall Police have now confirmed that a body had been found at 1.40pm.

A spokesperson said: "At approximately 1:40pm today (1st July), police search teams located the body of a man in Exeter Quay.

"Cordons are in place in the area as recovery continues. Whilst at this time we are not in a position to confirm the identity of the body, the family of missing 24-year-old Exeter man Dex Johnston have been informed of this development."

In an interview with BBC Spotlight just hours before police announced a body had been found, his mother Allison Matthew, from Exwick, said: "This is completely and utterly every parent's worst nightmare."

Friends said Dex had been due to go to Wembley on Sunday to watch Exeter City.

It has now been revealed that CCTV shows Dex in Cowick Street at 2am and 4am near The Farmers Friend shop - mysteriously heading away from his flat share in Haven Banks.

Close friend Ravennah Hancock, 25, of Heavitree, said that between 15 and 20 friends have been searching every day for four days, reports Devon Live.

She said: "The last sighting of Dex was at Exe Bridge, and then for some reason it has taken him an hour before he is seen in Cowick street near The Farmers Friend at 2am. We don't know why he went that way. He should have taken a left by the Co-op but he's ended up on the other side."

Ravennah has known Dex, who works for the Royal Mail in Exeter, since they were at school together. She said friendsfrom all over the country have joined the search.

"Dex is massively well-loved," she said. "He's almost like the clown of the group - making everybody else laugh."

Sgt Guy Biggar said: "We are very concerned for the welfare of Dex Johnston and are appealing to anyone who saw Dex on Saturday night going into Sunday morning in the Exe Bridges, Haven banks or the Alphington area."

Dex is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, of a medium build with short dark hair and a full beard. He was wearing a white tee-shirt with large black motif, khaki shorts and dark vans footwear.

A police presence was seen by the Co-Op near Exeter Quay on Monday. Divers were entering the water and the police helicopter was also seen above the area.

The Dartmoor Rescue Team, Ashburton, joined the police in an overnight search in the Exe Bridge area but were stood down on Monday morning.

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Floral tributes left on Exeter Quay for Dex Johnston

Floral tributes have been left on Exeter Quay after a body was found on Thursday in the search for missing Exeter postman Dex Johnston.

Dex, 24, disappeared in the early hours of Sunday morning near Exe Bridges and his friends and family had been searching for four days, along with police divers, the Dartmoor Rescue Team from Ashburton and the force helicopter.

At lunchtime on Thursday Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a body had been found at 1.40pm.

Floral tributes have been left on Exeter Quay after a body was found on Thursday in the search for missing Exeter postman Dex Johnston.

Dex, 24, disappeared in the early hours of Sunday morning near Exe Bridges and his friends and family had been searching for four days, along with police divers, the Dartmoor Rescue Team from Ashburton and the force helicopter.

At lunchtime on Thursday Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a body had been found at 1.40pm.

The identity of the body has not yet been confirmed by the Police, but a police spokesman said that the family of Dex Johnston have been informed.


One says: "Dex. Thinking of you. Can't believe you are gone. Miss you loads buddy."

On Thursday a body was retrieved near the boating pontoon and police said: "Police search teams located the body of a man in Exeter Quay.

"Cordons are in place in the area as recovery continues. Whilst at this time we are not in a position to confirm the identity of the body, the family of missing 24-year-old Exeter man Dex Johnston have been informed of this development."

The police cordon was removed at just after 2.30pm and businesses along the quay remained open during the busy half-term school holiday period.

Dex, who lives at Haven Banks, works for the Royal Mail in Exeter. He had gone missing on a night out and was due to travel to Wembley the following day to see the Exeter City play-off final.

His family, who live in Exwick, had earlier described his disappearance as 'every parent's worst nightmare'.

Friends had been travelling from London and all over the country to help in the search over the four days that he was missing.

Close friend Ravennah Hancock said: "Dex is massively well-loved. He's almost like the clown of the group - making everybody else laugh."

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Police confirm that the body found in Exeter Quay is Dex Johnston

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Police have confirmed that the body of a man found in the water at Exeter Quay on Thursday is missing 24-year-old Dex Johnston. The 24-year-old postman disappeared in the early hours of Sunday morning near Exe Bridges and his friends and family had been searching for four days, along with police divers, the Dartmoor Rescue Team from Ashburton and the force helicopter.

At lunchtime on Thursday, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a body had been found at 1.40pm.

Police have on Friday afternoon confirmed that body found is that of Dex Johnston.

A police spokesman said: “At approximately 1.40pm on Thursday, police search teams located the body of a man in the water at Exeter Quay.

“The body has been identified as missing 24-year-old Dex Johnston from Exeter.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained whilst enquiries are ongoing and police await the outcome of post-mortem results."

Floral tributes have been left on Exeter Quay after a body was found on Thursday in the search for missing Exeter postman Dex Johnston.

One says: "Dex. Thinking of you. Can't believe you are gone. Miss you loads buddy."


Friends of Dex have taken to social media to pay tribute to him.

Ravennah Hancock, who had been helping in the search to find him, posted: “First school together, middle school together, high school together; nearly 20 years of friendship and one that will be so hard to let go........genuinely one of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of knowing. We tried so so hard to find you we really did I promise, so many hours days and nights searching for you buddy, I'm sorry we didn't get to you in time........sleep easy now Dex Johnston."

The police cordon was removed at just after 2.30pm and businesses along the quay remained open during the busy half-term school holiday period.

Dex, who lived at Haven Banks, worked for the Royal Mail in Exeter. He had gone missing on a night out and was due to travel to Wembley the following day to see the Exeter City play-off final.

His family, who live in Exwick, had earlier described his disappearance as 'every parent's worst nightmare'.

Friends had been travelling from London and all over the country to help in the search. Ravennah said: "Dex is massively well-loved. He's almost like the clown of the group - making everybody else laugh."

[bustedflush]

24 years, the prime of his life. So sad - RIP buddy.