Tributes paid to tragic teenager
THE family of a teenager, who died following a night out, paid tribute to him this week as it emerged that one of his close friends had found his body.
THE family of a teenager, who died following a night out, paid tribute to him this week as it emerged that one of his close friends had found his body.
It was confirmed by Suffolk police on Wednesday that a body found on Tuesday afternoon in Buss Creek, Southwold, was that of 19-year-old Daniel Hannant, a former pupil at the Sir John Leman High School at Beccles.
The Reydon youngster was last seen at about 11.30pm on Saturday night after spending a night out with friends at the Royal British Legion Club, in Blackmill Road, Southwold.
His father, Michael Hannant, 50, told how the past few days had been “gut-wrenching” and “really terrible” for him and his wife Patricia, 49.
Mr Hannant also told how Daniel's close friend, Maneesh Patel, had found the body and then broken the news to the family.
“Maneesh wanted to go and look and see if he could find him,” said Mr Hannant.
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“The rescue team heard him call out that he had found a phone and the rest of the rescue team went over, and by that time Maneesh was pointing down into the dyke where they then found my son.”
Mr Patel returned to the family home and told Mr Hannant.
“I knew by the look on his face that he had found something. He just said 'I have found him'.
“It was just terrible. It was heart-stopping.”
Daniel, who had two younger brothers - Joseph, 17, and Mark, 14, had recently finished writing a fantasy novel which he had sent out to publishers. He had studied at East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston.
An inquest will be held at a later date.
