A body has been found in the search for missing Cookstown man Taylor Stewart.
The 21-year-old was last seen alive in the Co Tyrone town in the early hours of last Thursday morning, New Year’s Day.
A significant search and rescue operation had been in place in Cookstown for the last week, as Taylor’s family appealed for information on his whereabouts.
The PSNI confirmed that a body, believed to be that of Taylor Stewart, was found in the Church Street area of the town on Wednesday.
Taylor had been last seen in the nearby Church Heights area at 5.30am last Thursday.
The PSNI and volunteer teams including K9 Search and Rescue, Lough Neagh Rescue and Community Rescue Service had contributed to the search for the young man in icy conditions in several parts of the town.
“Police can confirm that the body of a man has been located in Cookstown this afternoon, Wednesday 7 January,” a PSNI spokesperson said.
“Whilst formal identification has not taken place, the family of Taylor Stewart, who has been missing since the early hours of New Year’s Day, has been informed.”
In response to whether police were treating the death as suspicious, the PSNI added that: “Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing at this time”.
In a statement posted to social media on Wednesday, a Community Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We regret to inform you that early this afternoon Community Rescue Service volunteers along with the Police Service of Northern Ireland located a body in the Cookstown area.
“The management and volunteers of the Community Rescue Service extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.”
Local UUP councillor Trevor Wilson said his thoughts were with Taylor’s family.
“My condolences are with the family of Taylor Stewart after a body was found in Cookstown on Wednesday,” Cllr Wilson said.
“I would also like to pay tribute to all those who contributed to the search for Taylor, particularly those from the local community who came together as part of the efforts to find this young man.”
Members of Lough Neagh Rescue searching local waterways in the Cookstown area for missing Taylor Stewart (inset). PICTURE: LOUGH NEAGH RESCUE