The Chronicle

He was a close pal to so many

FRIEND’S TRIBUTE AFTER COAST TRAGEDY

- By SOPHIE DOUGHTY sophie.doughty@reachplc.com @Sophie_Doughty

Crime Reporter

A HEARTBROKE­N friend of a man whose body was discovered on rocks near his home has today paid tribute to his pal.

Popular David Cleverley was found dead at the coast between Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice on Wednesday.

Friends and family launched a search party for the 34-year-old after his parents had been unable to contact him for two days.

But sadly it was too late as David’s body had already been recovered from rocks near the Old Hartley caravan site.

Police have since confirmed they are not treating David’s death as suspicious.

And today as messages of condolence flood in for his family, childhood friend Scott Oliver has told of his devastatio­n.

The 33-year-old said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I don’t even want to think about what was going through his head.

“His family are heartbroke­n.” Landscape gardener David, who was known as Clev, grew up in Seaton Delaval.

He and Scott became friends while they were pupils at Astley Community High School.

“I have known him since I was about 11, but we have been close friends for 20 years,” Scott explained. “We were sitting next to each other in French class and we just hit it off. He was a huge lad. When he was 14 he was really into weights.

“One of my biggest passions now is martial arts and I only went the first time because he wanted to go. He was into kick-boxing and stuff.”

David had recently moved to Seaton Sluice, where he became a regular at the Waterford Arms pub.

Civil servant Scott told The Chronicle how he got a message on Wednesday saying that David’s family were out looking for him because they hadn’t heard from him since Monday.

Scott immediatel­y joined the search party.

“I went straight to his flat,” he said. “They had been in all the pubs as well. Someone from the Waterford Arms mentioned that a body had been found.

“I just thought, ‘It’s not going to be him. He will be in the next pub.’

“The last time I saw him he was in

Scott Oliver (top) and Dave Cleverley

fine fettle. He was one of those people you would describe as being so laid back he was horizontal. That’s what everyone keeps saying. He was just an easygoing lad. He had a good sense of humour.”

After David’s body was identified Scott visited his devastated family.

“I sat with his mum and his sister and we shared daft stories,” said Scott. “I just wanted them to know how loved he was.

“We were close, but I have been looking through comments on Facebook and there are people who I have never even met who were close to him too. He had such a wide circle of friends and so many people are hurting.

“Nobody had anything bad to say about him.”

Police were called at around 11.35am on Wednesday after a body was spotted below the caravan site.

Officers and volunteer rescue crews attended the scene, where they found David’s body.

A Northumbri­a Police spokeswoma­n said: “There is not believed to be any third-party involvemen­t and a report has been prepared for the coroner.”

Emergency and rescue workers near the scene of David Cleverley’s death

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