Body found in search for missing triathlete

Police and fire crews were called at around 8.45am yesterday and joined around 30 volunteers searching for Mr Gallihawk.

I am taking part in my first ever Triathlon Sat 29 August It consists of a 750m swim in open water round Leybourne Lakes, followed by a 14 mile bike ride and 5 mile run.

Officials realized that Paul was missing when he failed to pick up his bike after the swimming portion of the race.

Participation in triathlons in the UK has surged over the past five years, from 120,620 race starts across 803 events in 2009 to 196,303 across 1,207 events last year, according to British Triathlon.

Paul Gallihawk was discovered in a lake after rescuers brought in specialist search teams equipped with sonar.

‘Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time’.

“Paul was a brilliant son and brother to Nick – he would do anything to help anyone and would always put them first”.

If anyone requires assistance in the water, they are asked to turn onto their backs and raise an arm to summon the safety boat. “They are such a lovely family”.

“He was incredible in every way and he always put others before himself”, she added. Find out more on the Just Giving page in link below and please help me raise as much money as possible for a great cause’.

Friends of Mr Gallihawk said he was a Tottenham Hotspur fan and had recently set up and managed a side called Whitehawks FC.

His parents, Malcolm and Linda Gallihawk, were distraught yesterday.

The next of kin of the man, named locally as 34-year-old Paul Gallihawk, have been told about the discovery, Kent Police said. “He was more of a brother than a friend”, they said in a statement.

I’m raising money for Kings College Hospital who looked after my dad through a tough 2014.

Mr Gallihawk surpassed his £300 target and the page has now raised over £2,600.

Messages of condolence were posted on the JustGiving site. One wrote: “We in the triathlon community are keeping our fingers crossed for one of our own”. “My thoughts and prayers go to his family, his lovely girlfriend Hayley and his vast amounts of friends”.