Police searching for rugby fan find body in River Ely (From Penarth Times)

Police searching for rugby fan find body in River Ely

11:37pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

POLICE searching for a rugby fan missing for more than a month have found a body in the River Ely.

Ben Thompson, 34, of Haverfordwest had been missing since the beginning of last month.

Up to 50 police officers took part in a major search operation along the River Ely around the Penarth Road area.

But search efforts were scaled back earlier this month as the prospect of finding Mr Thompson alive receded.

He is known to have watched the Wales vs Ireland match at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff, on February 2.

South Wales Police said that a body had been found in the River Ely near Penarth Road, Cardiff. The body has not yet been formally identified, the spokeswoman added.

Mr Thompson had won tickets to see the rugby international clash and had travelled to Cardiff with a friend.

He had contacted his wife on his mobile phone after the match but no more activity was logged on it after that single call.

"South Wales Police can confirm that a body has this afternoon been found in the River Ely near Penarth Road," a police spokeswoman said.

She added: "The family of missing man Ben Thompson, aged 34, from Haverfordwest, has been informed and are being kept updated by family liaison officers."