A NIGHT out has ended in tragedy after a young man who became separated from his friends was found dead in an Essex estuary.The dead man, who was in his early twenties, was visiting a friend in Walton when they were accidentally separated after enjoying a night out in the town on Friday, police revealed yesterday.

By Annie Davidson

A NIGHT out has ended in tragedy after a young man who became separated from his friends was found dead in an Essex estuary.

The dead man, who was in his early twenties, was visiting a friend in Walton when they were accidentally separated after enjoying a night out in the town on Friday, police revealed yesterday.

The following morning, a worker at Naze Marine Holiday Park made the grim discovery of the man's body facedown on a mudbank in the estuary behind the Hall Lane park.

Although formal identification has not yet taken place, police believe the body is that of the missing man, who came from Sussex.

His family are expected to travel to Essex to officially identify him this week. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman for Clacton police said: “At about 9.15am on Saturday it was reported to us that a male body been found near to the Naze Marine Holiday Park in Hall Lane.

“It was in the estuary on one of the mudbanks there, face down in the mud.

“He had been in Walton with friends when they became separated and that's where he was found.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out this week to find the cause of death.

Walton Coastguard were called to the scene to advise on tides while police removed the body.