Cornwall shooting party found human skeleton in bog
An inquest has heard how a shooting party in north Cornwall found a human skeleton submerged in mud while hunting on New Year's Day.
Andrew Ellis, 38, from Camelford, had not been been seen for nine months when the remains were found near Delabole.
The skeleton was discovered in a bog by a group of men hunting woodcock.
The inquest at Truro City Hall heard that Mr Ellis might have got trapped in the mud. Truro Coroner Emma Carlyon recorded an open verdict.
Gamekeeper David Scott told the inquest that at first he did not realise the remains were human because they were so badly decomposed.
The skeleton was later identified as that of Mr Ellis because of a metal plate in his ankle, there as a result of surgery a few years earlier.
Father-of-three Mr Ellis, who had separated from his wife, had not been seen since visiting his local GP surgery in March 2010.
Police had put out an alert after he was reported missing.
A Home Office pathologist was unable to ascertain the cause of death but suggested Mr Ellis might have got trapped in the mud.