What Happened To Paddy Dear? 16-Year-Old Boy, Who Went Missing During Geography Field Trip, Mysteriously Found Dead At Bottom Of 120-Foot-High Cliff

After an extensive search, 16-year-old Paddy Dear of Hornchurch, Essex, who went missing during a geography field trip to Dale Point in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales with 11 other pupils and his teacher, was found dead at the bottom of a 120-foot-high cliff, according to the Mirror. Dyfed-Powys Police made the grim discovery at approximately 1 a.m. on Friday, March 18 shortly after he was reported missing by his teachers.

dtn uK: Paddy Dear found dead at Dale Point after going missing on a school trip: Police are investigating aft… https://t.co/JXScAUBjw9

— DTN UK (@DTNUK) March 18, 2016

The circumstances surrounding the Campion student’s death is still a mystery, but police officials are working diligently to find out what happened to Paddy Dear, who was known as a keen sportsman.

However, when the teen’s school learned that he was found dead at the bottom of the cliff, the head teacher at Campion School, Keith Williams, sent an email to his parents, which stated the following.

“I am emailing to inform you of the tragic death of one of our Year 12 students, Paddy Dear who was on the Geography field trip to West Wales.

“Your son/daughter has been told of his death at assembly this morning following confirmation provided by the police. As you can imagine, this has had a devastating effect upon the school community.”

In a later statement, Williams stated, “Paddy was a wonderful young man who was fully involved in the life of the school. As a keen sportsman, he was very proud of representing the school in a range of sports but most notably rugby.”

» Teenager’s body found at bottom of cliffs after he went missing on a school trip:
Paddy Dear,… https://t.co/Pz7LfWw6QO #thisiswales

— this is Wales (@thisiswales) March 18, 2016

“He was a popular, very friendly and caring young man who had the whole world ahead of him. Nobody had a bad word to say about him and he never had a bad word for anyone else. His team members remember him as a talented, all round sportsman, loved by all who got to know him, fantastic company and the life and soul of any party.”

“He was a typical Campion student who gave everything he could to the school community,” Williams continued. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends who have been devastated by this news. The school is offering support to his friends through counselling and guidance from staff and priests who are with us today.”

According to the Daily Mail, the teen’s death came as a shock to many of his classmates, family, and friends, including his good friend Sean Kelly, who posted on his Twitter page, “Thoughts go out to his mum, dad and sister and brother and family.”

Sad to hear of the death of a Campion student. Thoughts and prayers with friends, family and school community.

— Gavin Callaghan (@CllrCallaghan) March 18, 2016

Days like these make you proud to be part of The Campion School?????? RIP Paddy, you’ll be missed greatly????????

— Lewis Brown (@LewisBrown97) March 18, 2016

One of the parents at the school, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters that the teen, who was mysteriously found dead at the bottom of a cliff, was a “lovely boy, a credit to his family. He was a very lovely young man, a teenager, but a nice teenager.”

“They are all devastated at the school. It is a close community, all the boys got on well.”

Following the death of the Campion student, an emotional memorial was later held in his memory at the school at 11 p.m. on the day his body was found at the bottom of the cliff.

Dave French, who had been Dear’s coach for the past six years, stated that he was a “remarkable young man.” He went on to say that Paddy was a “strong, committed and talented player who led by example through his 100 per cent commitment to the cause on the pitch, which led to him winning various awards voted by his teammates and or myself and my assistant Brad.”

“Paddy was the center of our team, highly respected and well-liked by all the players, many of whom were schoolmates and indeed close friends of his,” he continued.

“The loss of Paddy has devastated his family and the thoughts of the boys, Brad and myself are with his family at this most difficult of times.”

Police officials have yet to release any information regarding the teen’s cause of death or if they’ve interviewed the students and teachers who were on the geography field trip with Dear.

Police officials are currently investigating the mysterious death of 16-year-old Paddy Dear, but stated that it “would appeal for anyone who was in the Dale area late yesterday evening, and may have information which could help the investigation, to contact Haverfordwest Police.”

[Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images]