THE body of a Reigate plumber has been recovered from a canal, a week after he went missing on holiday in Holland.
Dutch police have ruled Wayne Davies died after accidentally falling into the water after a night out.
But his heartbroken family say a crucial series of questions relating to his death remain unanswered.
The 22-year-old was last seen leaving Hifi bar, in the city of Leiden, in the early hours of Saturday, April 19, after a night out drinking with friends.
Two boats – one equipped with sonar equipment and the other with a sniffer dog – scoured the city's network of canals last Thursday.
A body was recovered from the water at about 9am on Saturday by police, who confirmed it was Mr Davies, who worked for worked for construction firm Osborne in Reigate.
His family and friends have paid tribute to a "much-loved" man.
But his mum Patricia Davies, from East Grinstead, is dismayed police did not tell her that her son's body had been found – she only learnt of her son's death when it was reported on social media after his body was recovered. And a Dutch television station even posted a video of the body online - before the family were informed.
She said: "I'm absolutely disgusted at the way the Dutch police have handled his death. I had to ring 999 in the UK and ask if the body recovered was that of my son, because I had been sent a text by someone else asking if it was true."
Mrs Davies has now vowed to find out what happened the night her son went missing.
"Someone out there must know exactly what happened that night and I want to find out," she said.
A Sussex Police spokesman said by the time the force was informed by Dutch Police, the news had been broadcast live on TV and Dutch social media.
A Dutch police spokesman said: "Detectives have thoroughly investigated the disappearance of Wayne Davies and his unfortunate death. They followed all the available leads. But the detectives and the medical examiner have found no evidence of any crime.
"Within minutes of discovering the body of a young man in a canal in Leiden last Saturday, Dutch police contacted their English colleagues. English police tried to inform the family of Wayne Davies but weren't able to reach them, Dutch police were told. Because the body was found in a public area, the discovery drew the attention of bystanders. They spread the news on social media before English police were able to inform the family of the deceased."
