Holidaymaker dies after going missing in Africa

Image source, Family photo

Image caption, Michael Costain left for Africa on 8 March and died while he was there

A holidaymaker has died after he went missing in The Gambia.

Michael Costain, 69, from Rhayader, Powys, travelled to the west African country on 8 March and had been expected back on 20 March.

Dyfed-Powys Police launched a missing persons appeal last month.

But the force has now confirmed that he died while on holiday and said it was not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Costain spent time in Busumbala, western Gambia, before travelling to the village of Abene in southern Senegal.

He had booked a flight home but the alarm was raised when he did not board it.

Mr Costain was a percussionist and member of Community Arts Rhayader and District (CARAD).

The organisation said he led drumming workshops and parades and even travelled to Brazil to teach music to children.

CARAD trustee Peter Cox described him as a man who "loved travelling to extraordinary places".

He said that his friend died while on a bus on holiday, adding: "It feels fitting, in some way, that he would have closed his eyes for the last time having been gazing out of the window watching an exciting new world open up before him.

"He will be missed by all who knew him."