The corpse discovered in a crevice at Dingli Cliffs this morning is that of a teenager who went missing last week.

Family members of the German teenager have confirmed that the body is that of the missing man, Mike Mansholt.

The corpse was discovered next to a bicycle by members of the Civil Protection Department while a search was under way for the missing teen. The bicycle is the one the German youngster rented.

The police said the decomposed body was found 10 storeys below the top of the cliff close to the St Mary Magdalene Chapel.

Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia is conducting an inquiry. The magistrate arrived on site five hours after the discovery, before which time the body could not be moved. After an on-site inspection by the magistrate, the body was lifted into a police hearse and transported. 

The police are still to announce the identity of the missing man.

Mike Mansholt, a 17-year-old, went missing eight days ago in the limits of Dingli.

This morning, members of the youngster's family were giving a press conference to raise awareness about the search, minutes before the grim discovery was made. Members of the family were later taken on site and, after waiting for some hours at the top of the cliff, were taken below to where the body was found to identify it. 

 

 

Mike's last contact with anyone, be it friends or family was on the 18 July when he was last seen online, relatives said.  His brother Daniel appealed to all that “He is here, and we must find him.”

"Mike is a vibrant and adventurous young man who was incredibly fit trying all kinds of sports such as mountain biking, rock climbing and cliff jumping. After his family travelled the world on a boat when he was younger, he has always been a keen adventurer so it he could literally be anywhere on the island."

Daniel Mansholt said his brother was on a bike and went off on his own so there is a chance that he had some form of accident. Nothing can be confirmed apart from the fact that he is still on the island. The emotional brother also said that he is ready to look under every single rock to find him.

Mr Warrington said search efforts included use of search and rescue dogs, drones and helicopters.

Mike reportedly spoke of wanting to try steep downhill riding in Dingli but the possibilities are endless so there is nothing excluding the search extending to Gozo as well. 

 

Photos/video Jonathan Borg