A body discovered at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo earlier this week has been identified.

Nanaimo RCMP were called to the beach off Hammond Bay Road on Wednesday, Jan. 24, according to a press release, and while they were unable to determine the identify the body initially, pictures were taken of several tattoos.

The tattoos and other identifying marks allowed police to confirm that the remains were those of Ryan Pratt, 35, who had been reported missing on Dec. 2.

鈥淎t the time he was reported missing, the deceased had been living on a sailboat moored in nearby waters off Hammond Bay Road,鈥� the press release noted.

Despite a comprehensive search, involving a number of agencies, searchers were unable to locate him at the time.

The man鈥檚 family has been notified, stated the press release, and RCMP victim services is assisting. The B.C. Coroners Service is continuing to investigate.

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