The inquest into the death of a man who went missing for a week before his body washed up on a Suffolk beach has been opened.

Twenty-one-year-old Zachary Shaw, who lived in Hertfordshire, was on holiday with his friends in September 2023 in Aldeburgh.

The inquest heard that on September 20, Mr Shaw went swimming in the sea during "strong winds and high waves".

Mr Shaw failed to return, and two coastguard helicopters and a number of rescue boats were called to the coast at about 1.15pm that day.

Aldeburgh beach where Mr Shaw was foundAldeburgh beach, where Mr Shaw's body was found (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

A search and rescue mission was launched to find Mr Shaw but this was called off on September 22, with no body found.

On September 27, one week after he had entered the sea, Mr Shaw's body washed up on Aldeburgh beach.

A member of the public contacted Suffolk police at 9.55am.

Assistant coroner at Suffolk Coroners' Court, Tim Deeming, opened the inquest into Mr Shaw's death and adjourned it, with a case review to be held within the next six weeks.