Body pulled from sea in hunt for killer whales trainer Amy
POLICE searching for killer whales trainer Amy Gerard yesterday found a woman’s body in the sea near where she vanished in Tenerife.
It was discovered opposite a lighthouse in the city of Puerto de la Cruz where Briton Amy, 28, lived.
She was last seen outside Irish bar Molly Malone’s early on Friday.
Amy , originally from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, worked as a whale, dolphin and seal trainer at the Spanish island’s Loro Parque marine theme park.
Her mother Julie and sister Chloe had flown out to help with the search operation.
Police said yesterday: “A woman’s body has been found in the sea.
“It is too early to say at this stage whether it is that of the missing Briton or not.”
The body, found at about 11.30am local time shortly after a land, air and sea search was resumed, was brought to shore.
Flashing
It is understood it was spotted by a Civil Guard helicopter, then recovered by one of the search boats.
A source close to the inquiry said: “The body was in a very bad state. A post-mortem examination will take place later.
“It is far too early at this stage to determine how death occurred and whether it was accidental or not.”
A witness said: “A helicopter was hovering near the sea wall and a few moments later a boat involved in the search operation, a Red Cross rigid-inflatable boat, went out with its light flashing.
“After 20 minutes it came back. The police had arrived in that time and taped off a section of the harbour wall by a fairground.
“Two police cars and a van turned up and officers were pushing people Sealife trainer Amy Gerard, above, and, right, the body found in the ocean being lifted from a rescue boat yesterday
back. The boat pulled up against the side of the harbour wall and a diver got up, was handed some blankets and they put up a screen of them before removing the body.”
A source close to the investigation said: “The body was in such a bad way that it was difficult to work out With Christmas just around the corner, now’s the time to stock up. What’s more, all these are cheaper than last Christmas.
if it was a man or a woman at first. No one is going to speculate on whether it’s Amy until official identification has taken place.
“Unless there is a unique, distinguishing mark, it’s highly likely identification will involve DNA tests, which is going to slow up the process
a little bit.” There was no immediate reaction from Julie and Chloe, who have been regularly updating social media with appeals.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office earlier confirmed it was assisting the family of a British woman in Tenerife.