Police have recovered a body from the sea believed to be that of a man in his 70s who went missing after a small boat with two people on board sank off the coast of Torquay last month.

Exmouth RNLI was involved in the search-and-rescue operation on 19 May. One man was rescued, but the other man was not found at the time.

Formal identification has not yet taken place. His next of kin have been informed and the death is not being treated as suspicious.

DI Nicky Baker of Devon and Cornwall Police said: "On Wednesday (31 May), following a police co-ordinated operation involving specialist teams, the body of a man [was] recovered from the sea. 

"Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, this is believed to be the same person who went missing after a boat sank off the coast of Torquay on 19 May.

"Emergency services were called on Friday 19 May to a report of a small vessel sinking around eight miles off the coast of South Devon.

"Following this, the coastguard recovered one man from the water who was checked over by the ambulance service. 

"However a man in his 70s remained outstanding and enquiries have been ongoing to locate him since this incident.

"His next of kin have been informed and kept updated by police.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."