A retired British lawyer is feared to have died in the Seychelles after disappearing on a jungle trip.
Peter Clement, 57, who was on holiday celebrating his retirement, was last seen walking alone on the 12-mile Grande Barbe Trail on Silhouette Island on May 15.
No trace of the former chamberlain was found in the 2 Harcourt buildings in London after a search of helicopters, ships and drones. One theory is that he may have had difficulty when the bad weather began as he walked along the trail, which runs from one side of the mountain island to the other.
In a statement on its website, 2 Harcourt Buildings said: “It is with deep surprise and sadness that we have to announce the loss of our dear friend, colleague and former Chief of Staff Peter Clement. He had recently retired after ‘an illustrious career as a criminal lawyer, practicing from 2 Harcourt buildings for more than 30 years.
“Before joining the chambers he was a captain in the army’s legal service and served in Northern Ireland. He was highly esteemed and respected by everyone in the chambers and also among his many friends in the criminal bar. you will miss him. “
The local newspaper Le Seychellois had previously reported in the search that the weather had been so hard that Clement was unlikely to be alive.
According to police, all his personal belongings and travel documents were found intact in his hotel room, the weekly reports.
He added that in an unusual move, police said the persistent bad weather had lowered hopes of finding the British man alive.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that the department was supporting the family of a British man who went missing in the Seychelles and was in contact with local authorities.
Matthew Scott, a Pump Court Chambers lawyer, was one of many in the profession to pay tribute to Clement, describing him as a “good lawyer and a man who was impossible not to like.”
Robert Verkaik, a journalist and author who studied with Clement, said: “Extraordinary, funny, with no shortage of opinions, a mature student beyond his age. His career as a bar was a credit to his hard work and intelligence. “