'Infectious spirit': Family remembers missing teen fondly as body found after five 'torturous' months
SOMERSET, ENGLAND: A heartbroken family has honored their son after he was recently discovered dead, months after he went missing. Freddy Perham had not been seen since September 20 of last year. He reportedly disappeared from his home in the Stolford area of Somerset.
After his disappearance, a search operation was launched which saw over 100 police officers, and numerous search and rescue crew workers looking for him. Nothing fruitful happened for many months. But on January 30, it was reported that a member of the public, identified as John Plowright, discovered his remains in a water-filled ditch on Steart Marshes near Bridgwater, Somerset.
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‘The five months that Freddy was missing were torturous’
Reports said that the official identification of the body has been done and his family has been informed. Now, a statement from the 17-year-old's relatives noted, as reported by BBC, “There are no words to describe the overwhelming grief we have as a family at the loss of Freddy. The five months that Freddy was missing were torturous, not knowing where he was, or whether he was alive.”
The statement also went on to say, “Whilst the news of his death is devastating, now that he's been found and returned to our family we can lay Freddy to rest and grieve. His carefree and infectious spirit was loved and cherished by all his family and friends and knowing we will never experience that again leaves us with a huge hole that can never be filled. We hope that he is now at peace. Freddy our son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend, you will be terribly missed.”
‘Thank you for your relentless efforts’
The family did not end their statement there as they also expressed their gratitude toward the law enforcement and authorities. They added, “To the police, we thank you for your relentless efforts to find Freddy. The care you have shown us will not be forgotten.
“We know the police were supported by many other specialist search agencies and volunteers and we say thank you to you as well for giving so much of yourselves to us. To our friends, our community, and all the people we have never met that offered us their prayers, their support, and their time, we are grateful to you and be in no doubt that your care and compassion were felt daily.”
Meanwhile, reports have said that an inquest into Freedy's death has begun but was adjourned until November 2023, and which will happen at Somerset Coroner's Court in Taunton.
‘So sad thoughts to his family and friends'
Many people have shared their tributes to the young man and their condolences to his family on social media. A Facebook user commented, “This is so sad my thoughts are with his family 😔😢 xx.” The second one wrote, “This was such very sad news to hear. I shall always remember Freddy as a very young school boy with his luscious blonde locks of hair coming into primary school in the morning’s. He was always a free spirit. I do hope he is at peace now. Lots of love to the family, we are all thinking of you during such a tragic time xx.”
“Heartbreaking 💔 RIP Young man thoughts and prayers are with his family 🙏,” the third user posted. The fourth user added, “I always think of Freddy when lm fishing on the beach at Steart, it’s like l can feel his spirit all around me. Such a sad loss 😞.”