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| Pierre Barnes: Search for missing boy called off | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The search has been called off for a 12-year-old British boy who went missing on an island in the south of France. | |
| The father of Pierre Barnes believes his son is dead and his body may never be found. | |
| But the French prosecutor in charge of the investigation insisted inquiries would still continue. | |
| Pierre, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, vanished on Porquerolles while cycling in a storm on Saturday. | |
| Pierre's father Stephen said: "Pierre is dead but I hope we find his body, then we can bury him. But I'm afraid that even that might not be possible." | |
| Rescuers found his bike and one of his shoes on a path about 3km from the holiday home his family were renting. | |
| He had disappeared just hours after arriving on the island for a half-term holiday with his family. | |
| Search teams had been scouring crevices and caves where Pierre might have sought shelter from the strong winds, as well as ponds and pools he might have fallen into. | |
| Divers and search dogs had also taken part in the search for the youngster, who was wearing a rugby shirt and a robe "worn like a superhero" cape when he vanished. | |
| Xavier Tarabeux, the prosecutor in charge of the inquiry into the disappearance, said: "We haven't closed the investigation. | |
| "We still have to perform a technical examination of the bike because its chain was broken when it was found. | |
| "We still have to conduct hearings with witnesses who might have seen Pierre on his bicycle." | |
| Investigators previously ruled out abduction, as there were no boats leaving Porquerolles when Pierre disappeared. | |
| Mr Tarabeux said: "We do not think there is a criminal motive behind the disappearance. | |
| 'Let down' | |
| "However, it's still too early to say that the investigation is finished. | |
| "After all our efforts, after combing the island thoroughly, we are stopping the search. | |
| "The weather is getting bad and everything has been done to look for Pierre." | |
| Paul Mourier, the prefect of the Var region, said: "Everything has been done, we have scoured the island on all sides. We have been let down." |