Body of former Bury St Edmunds man David Cauldwell discovered in woodland in Devon

David Cauldwell (Image: Archant)

David Cauldwell, 39, who grew up in Bury St Edmunds, was last seen just before 12midnight on May 21 leaving The Artful Dodger pub in Teignmouth Road, Torquay close to his home.

He was reported missing the following morning after he sent a text message to his family around 5.45am saying he was ‘lost in the woods’.

Friends of Mr Cauldwell, a self employed building contractor, immediately began searching the steep hilly coastal footpath which cuts through nearby Petitor Woods.

On May 24, a major land and air search of the area was launched by emergency services.

The pub where David Cauldwell was last seen (Image: Archant)

His body was eventually found by a friend at around 8.10am the following morning at the bottom of a steep wooded area between the end of Petitor Road and Petitor Beach.

According to Devon and Cornwall Police, Mr Cauldwell’s body was discovered on the coastal path where recent landslide activity could be seen. It was just 200 metres away from where human remains had been discovered just hours before, although the two are not being connected.

At the opening of an inquest into his death in Devon, the coroner heard that Mr Cauldwell had been identified by his father John Cauldwell, a retired company director from Bury St Edmunds.

The cause of death was multiple injuries and it was not being treated as suspicious.

Although he had lived in Torquay since 1997, Mr Cauldwell grew up in Bury St Edmunds and attended County Upper School.

His parents still live in Westley on the outskirts of the town and he has many friends in the area.

Last night, Mr Cauldwell’s family were too upset to comment but one of his close friends who works in the town told the EADT: “David had such a huge number of friends who are all in shock and are devastated that he has gone.

“He was so well liked by everyone who knew him well. He was a keen angler and loved cats. He was just a very special guy.”