Missing man’s leg found on beach three months after he vanished

The skeletal remains of a missing man have been discovered on a beach in Wales.

DNA testing confirmed the limb belonged to William Shine, a 41-year-old retail manager from Birmingham who had vanished in the area in May 2025.

A member of the public stumbled upon the skeletal lower left leg near the slipway at Caerddaniel Caravan Park in Llanbedr last summer, prompting an inquest into Mr Shine’s death.

Mr Shine had last been seen travelling by train to Machynlleth before heading in the direction of Pwllheli, leading police to issue an appeal to locate him, reports North Wales Live.

Senior Coroner for North Wales West, Kate Robertson, conducted the inquest in writing, stating: “William James Shine was reported as missing from his home 12 May 2025 having last been seen on 9 May 2025 on a train up to North West Wales. He was not located.”

She added: “On 13 August 2025 a skeletal lower left leg was found by a member of the public washed up onto the beach at Llanbedr by the slipway to Caerddaniel Caravan Park. DNA testing identified the leg to be William’s.

“On the balance of probabilities from the evidence available William died on or around 9th May 2025 though in the absence of his body (except for the skeletal remains of part of his left leg) it cannot be determined how he came by his death although it is more likely than not that he died in the area of North West Wales.”