Specialist teams searching for our missing colleague Professor Tom Marsh in Chile have found a body.

Tom was working as a visiting astronomer at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla astronomical observatory in the Atacama Desert. He was reported missing on 16 September and has not been seen since.

An extensive search of the remote mountainous region around the observatory has been underway for many weeks led by a highly trained specialist search team.

The local regional police posted a Tweet this afternoon (Thursday, November 10) confirming a body had been found around two miles from the observatory.

No formal identification of the body has been made and that is expected to happen over the next day or so. Tom’s family are currently in Chile to help in the search for him.

Chris Ennew, Provost at the University of Warwick, said: “This is deeply distressing news for Tom’s family and our thoughts are of course with them, along with his colleagues and our wider community.

"And we realise it’s particularly difficult while people are waiting for formal identification to take place.

"I know what a terrible time this is for the colleagues who knew Tom and counted him as a close friend as well as an inspirational academic and mentor.

"For anyone who has been impacted by today’s news, please do use the wellbeing support that’s there to help you during this difficult time."

Staff can access specialist help through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

And postgraduate students can contact our Wellbeing and Student Support. who are there to offer advice and emotional support for all students that need it.

Our multi-faith chaplaincy is also on hand for people of all faiths, or none, to offer a quiet place to reflect and take stock.

10 November 2022