The body of a second man has been found following an extensive search for two friends who disappeared after heading towards a beach on the LlÅ·n Peninsula with inflatable kayaks.

North Wales Police have confirmed that the body of Simon Wilson was discovered in the sea near Llwyngwril, Gwynedd, on Tuesday evening.

Officers were called at around 7.20pm on Tuesday, July 29, following reports that a body had been found in the sea near Llwyngwril. The man was later formally identified as Simon Wilson, one of the two men reported missing from Pwllheli last week. His family has been informed, along with HM Coroner.

The tragic discovery comes just two days after the body of Connor Parfitt was found on a beach in Aberystwyth at around 12.30pm on Sunday, July 26.

Mr Wilson and Mr Parfitt had been missing since last Tuesday evening after they were last seen close to the beach near Hafan y Môr Holiday Park in Pwllheli. The pair had been heading towards the coast with inflatable kayaks, prompting a major multi-agency search involving North Wales Police, HM Coastguard, RNLI crews and other emergency services.

Confirming the latest development, a North Wales Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called at around 7.20pm yesterday, 29 July, to reports of a body being found in the sea near to Llwyngwril, Gwynedd.

"The man has now been identified as Simon Wilson, one of the men who we circulated as missing from Pwllheli last week.

"Simon’s family and the coroner have been informed."

Chief Inspector Stephen Pawson said: "I share my deepest condolences with Simon's family at this incredibly difficult time.

"This is not the outcome any of us had hoped for, including the teams involved in the searches.

"Thank you to partner agencies, volunteers and members of the public who assisted in our searches.

"We would request that both Simon and Connor's families' privacy are respected."

The search for the two men prompted an extensive operation along the North Wales coastline after they failed to return from their trip. Rescue teams searched both land and sea, while officers appealed for information from the public and carried out precautionary shoreline inspections at several locations along the coast in the days following their disappearance.

On Monday, police confirmed that the body recovered from a beach in Aberystwyth had been formally identified as Connor Parfitt after it was discovered at around 12.30pm on Sunday.

The deaths have shocked communities across North Wales and beyond, with tributes expected to be paid to both men in the coming days.

North Wales Police have not released any further details regarding the circumstances of the incident. The deaths are not being treated as suspicious, and reports will now be prepared for HM Coroner, who will determine the causes of death.