Body found near Estepona believed to be missing British man

Authorities on the Costa del Sol said on Monday that they have found a body believed to be Andrew Wade, a 65-year-old British man who disappeared on Aug. 15 while visiting the area. Wade was last seen with friends, who said they were extremely worried something had happened to him.

The body was located in Paraiso, near Estepona, by National Police officers with help from Civil Protection and the Estepona Fire Brigade as part of an extensive search operation. Investigators had been reviewing Wade’s movements and determined he had been preparing to move back to his country of origin. Confirmation of the identity and the cause of death is pending, authorities said.

This morning, investigators narrowed Wade’s last known movements and carried out a thorough search of the wooded Paraiso area, which is characterized by dense undergrowth. Earlier efforts to map the terrain using drones had not yielded results, given the challenging habitat.

At the time Wade disappeared, reports indicated he had left behind his two cats, a detail friends described as very unusual for him. A acquaintance described him as “lovely.” It was also reported that he may have been driving a black Volkswagen Golf when last seen.

Spanish charity SOS Desaparecidos urged anyone with information to come forward. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing risk of missing-person cases along the Costa del Sol, where authorities say the investigation remains active as more details become available.