Gaia Pope's sister pays tribute to the missing teenager as family left devastated by discovery of body

Gaia Pope’s sister has paid tribute to the teenager as her family were left reeling after a body was discovered in the hunt for the missing 19-year-old.

Clara Pope described her sister as the “absolute light of my life” after police announced they were “confident” they had found Gaia, who had not been seen for 11 days.

The discovery was made at around 3pm on Saturday by specialist search teams on land south of Swanage – close to where clothing identified as belonging to the teenager was found on Thursday.

Dorset Police said the teen’s death was being treated as “unexplained”.

A tearful Clara Pope told ITV News: “I just want to tell everybody that every minute of your hard work has been absolutely worth it.

“She is – I’m not going to say was and never will – the absolute light of my life. So beautiful, so emotionally wise and intelligent and so passionate and artistic and creative and understanding.

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She added: “And I will always, always, always be one of three. Always one of three. And I just want to thank everybody.”

Her cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, also thanked everyone who had helped.

She told ITV News: “If there is one ray of light in this nightmare it is the compassion, humanity and community spirit that you’ve shown over the last 10 days.”

Ms Pope-Weidemann went on: “Your dedication and selflessness for a girl that many of you don’t even know has been staggering and one of the few things that kept us going.

“This afternoon the emergency services found Gaia’s body. We are absolutely devastated and unable to put those feelings of loss into words.

“We thank you for everything you have done. Our little bird has flown but will always be with us.”

The discovery came after hundreds of people joined searches on Saturday afternoon around Swanage looking for Gaia, who suffered from severe epilepsy, including her family.

On Friday, the teenager’s mother Natasha said she had not given up hope her daughter would be found alive – saying “I believe miracles can happen”.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “Although the body has yet to be formally identified, we are confident that we have found Gaia.

“Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers. Our thoughts remain with all of her family and friends at this very traumatic time.”

Detectives have arrested three people – a 71-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 49-year-old man named locally as Paul Elsey. All have been released as investigations continue.