BREAKING NEWS Husband pays emotional tribute after body of Rachel Booth, 38, found in lake after vanishing on early morning jog
Cheshire Constabulary confirmed that the body found yesterday by search teams at a lake in Oakmere was that of 38-year-old Rachel Booth, a mother of three from Barnton, near Northwich.
She had been reported missing in the early hours of Saturday, Ms Booth was last seen at 3.50am that morning on CCTV entering a Shell petrol station in Sandiway, around seven miles from her home.
Later that day, officers cordoned off the Wild Shore Delamere water sports centre near Chester, where several police cars and fire engines were seen at the scene.
It is understood Ms Booth's belongings were found close to the lake at the centre.
On Sunday, police confirmed that specialist divers had begun searching the water and a body was recovered yesterday, and in an update this morning, officers confirmed it had been formally identified as Ms Booth.
Following the tragic news, Rachel's family has released a statement: 'Rachel, who was known to us as Helena, was a cherished member of our family. She was a guiding light whose strengths, love, and devotion touched us all.
'Her kindness was constant and her presence a strength to everyone she knew, a loving mother, wife, daughter and sister who can never be replaced but always present in our hearts.
'Her absence leaves a space, but her smiles are a memory we will treasure forever.'
Police at Delamere Park in Oakmere, Cheshire, during the search for Rachel Booth yesterday
It also added: 'As a family we would also like to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the services and business that supported Cheshire Police and their officers during the search for Rachel.'
Police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file would be prepared for the coroner.
Searches near Delamere Lake holiday park had been underway since the weekend.
Detectives had said they were conducting inquiries in the area because they believed Ms Booth had travelled there.
Yesterday morning, two underwater search units were seen arriving in the area, next to the water park.
An incident command unit and a police dogs vehicle were also at the scene.
Police remained in the area after the news that a body had been found was announced, with roads to the lake cordoned off.
A Cheshire Constabulary spokesman said today: 'Police searching for a missing woman from Northwich have sadly found a body. Rachel Booth was reported missing from the Barnton area of Northwich on Saturday, July 19 by her family.
'Officers have been searching tirelessly for the 38-year-old since her disappearance. Following extensive appeals and searches in the area, officers have now sadly recovered a body in a lake in Oakmere.
A police team during a boat search being carried out at Delamere Park in Cheshire yesterday
'Formal identification has taken place and has confirmed it is that of Rachel. Her family have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers. They have requested privacy at this time.
'There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.'
Ms Booth was described as 5ft 9in, of slim build with blonde hair, and had been wearing black leggings and a black top.
The Wild Shore Delamere Park centre said in a statement that it was closed 'due to ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area'.
The statement added: 'This incident is unrelated to Wild Shore – however we wish to help as much as possible – so we will be closing the site until further notice.'
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