A young man who was sadly found dead after a four-week-long search has been described as a “beautiful soul” by his heartbroken family.
A missing person appeal was launched by police in May this year to help find Dylan Baylis, who was last seen in the St Dunstan’s Street area of Canterbury.
His disappearance sparked pleas for his safe return with police offering multiple updates during the search.
However, the 26-year-old was later found in Hambrook Marshes, off Whitehall Road, on the afternoon of June 10, and pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaking on a GoFundMe page launched this week, his mum Flo admitted the news was “the most devastating I could have received as his mum”.
She wrote: “Both myself, his sister and his extended family and dear friends are utterly heartbroken and devastated at the sudden loss of such a beautiful soul.
“After nearly four weeks of searching, Dylan was found in a very peaceful spot on Hambrook Marshes in Canterbury.
“Dylan has left such a massive hole in so many lives.
“He was deeply loved by many and his untimely loss is utterly unbearable.”
The fundraiser has been organised after the Bayliss family were given permission to erect a memorial bench near the spot “Dylan finally found peace”.
With an initial target of £1,000, almost 100 donations have been made totalling more than £1,800.
“As a family we are very grateful for this as it’s something that the charity do not normally allow and it means a lot to us and his friends to be able to have somewhere to visit regularly to help us attempt to start coming to terms with our loss,” said Flo.
“For those of you who knew him, and those who didn’t but held him in your hearts during the search for him, any donations will be gratefully received.”
