THE body of 35-year-old Damian Cook was found in the sea off the coast of Porto Cristo yesterday afternoon, some 24 hours after he fell while being videoed climbing the cliff face by his wife Ester.
The massive search, which had been launched on Wednesday afternoon when the alarm was raised by his wife, had resumed at first light yesterday morning with police and rescue workers combing the coastline near Cala Petita, while a Guardia Civil helicopter joined the hunt for the body of the 35-year-old computer professor.
Guardia Civil divers were also brought in yesterday and it was one of the specialist GEAS divers who found the body at a depth of 15 metres early in the afternoon.
Emergency services admitted yesterday morning, as the search entered its second day that their hopes of finding the climber alive were fading, especially considering the violent storm which swept through Majorca on Wednesday night.
Once found, the body was brought ashore in Porto Cristo and will be flown back to the United Kingdom as soon as possible.
Damian Cook, a computer teacher at a technical college in Epsom, had been in Majorca attending a computer convention held by one of the world's leading computer companies at a major Paseo Maritimo hotel.
The 35-year-old, wife Ester and their two children, a girl aged three and a boy aged just two months, were all due to have flown home on Wednesday night.
A number of family members flew out to Majorca immediately on Wednesday to be on hand while helping Mrs. Cook and the children. She has also received care from 112 emergency service psychologists to help her deal with the trauma, not only of losing her husband, but also of watching the tragic accident unfold. Representatives from the British Consulate have also been helping the family.
According to the police, Damian fell, after losing his footing, in to the sea fully clothed and from a considerable height.
Described as an experienced climber by sources back in England, his wife apparently thought it was nothing more than a minor incident at first and carried on filming.
But as he started to disappear below the waves, battling to stay afloat, it was obvious Damian was in trouble.
He apparently surfaced a few more times before being pulled under by the rough sea and strong current in the area.
From her hotel room in Palma yesterday, Mrs. Cook declined to make any comment.
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