A TEENAGER whose disappearance sparked a huge West Somerset emergency services search was found dead in a water-filled ditch four months later, a coroner heard.

Freddy Perham, aged 17, walked out of his farm home in Stolford, near Stogursey, on September 20 last year and was not seen again.

Somerset coroner Samantha Marsh told at the opening of inquest proceedings in the Old Municipal Buildings, Taunton, how he was found on January 30 by John Plowright, who was moving sheep with his nephew.

Mrs Marsh said Mr Plowright spotted a pair of brown boots sticking out from a hedgerow alongside a ditch.

Mr Plowright called police who arrived and found Freddy’s remains.

Mrs Marsh said she was satisfied from forensic evidence that it was Freddy and could not have been anybody else.

She said the cause of death was ‘un-ascertained’ and although it was not possible to carry out toxicology tests, natural causes had been ruled out.

Mrs Marsh adjourned the proceedings for a full inquest hearing to take place on November 28.

More than 100 police officers and staff had been involved in the search for Freddy alongside personnel from HM Coastguards, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the Burnham Area Rescue Boat search and rescue team.

The operation also used a police helicopter, a drone unit, and specialist search dogs.

Det Chief Insp Andy Greaves, who led the inquiry, said at the time everything that could be done to find Freddy was being done.

He said Freddy’s family were ‘extremely grateful’ and ‘overwhelmed’ by the support shown to them and the efforts find Freddy.