Body of Mudeford diver Matthew Green discovered after fatal Durdle Door expedition

THE body of a 33-year-old scallop diver from Mudeford was found off the Purbeck coast just five weeks after getting married.

Father-of-two Matthew Green (pictured) was reported missing after going out 2.5km off Durdle Door on Tuesday and failing to resurface as expected.

A number of fellow divers travelled to the area where Matthew – an experienced diver of 10 years – had been working, in a bid to retrace his movements on the sea floor.

The Coastguard, the RNLI, specialist shore-based rescue teams and Dorset Police carried out extensive searches throughout Tuesday afternoon and into the evening.

The police confirmed on Wednesday that a body had been found in the water and it was believed to be Matthew. His family are being supported by officers.

Matthew was one of four siblings, with two brothers and a sister. He recently married his partner of six years, Mandy, and the couple lived in Mudeford with their two young children.

He was well known in the fishing community, working off Lulworth Cove and Dartmouth, Devon.

Chief Insp. Alan Setchell said: “Our thoughts are with Matthew’s family at what must be an extremely difficult time and we will do everything we can to support them.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the search effort over the past two days.”

Tributes were paid to Matthew on Facebook, with his step-daughter Beth Ingram writing:

“Five weeks ago we celebrated one of the best weddings we've ever been to.

“Today we were delivered the worst possible news that you passed away doing the job you love.

“Words cannot begin to explain the loss you have left in our lives. You were an amazing dad, husband and grumps. You will forever be in our hearts and never forgotten. See you on the other side.”

Another posted: “He was such an incredible, funny, outgoing man and an absolutely amazing dad and husband and he will be incredibly missed by all.

“Please keep his family in your thoughts as they try to come to terms with the huge loss they are suffering.”

Matthew’s mother had reportedly recently fallen ill and is in the intensive care unit at Plymouth Hospital where Matthew and the rest of the family, including his brother Robert Carter-Lovell, a Royal Navy submarine officer, had been regularly visiting her.