THE body of a man found on the bank of the River Severn at Gatcombe, near Blakeney on Saturday is believed to be that of Rikki Baldwin, 24, who jumped off the A48 Wye road bridge in Chepstow on Easter Bank Holiday Monday.

Although police on Tuesday said no formal identification had yet taken place, the Baldwin family has posted messages on a Facebook page paying tribute to "a lovely son".

It is understood the body on the river bank was spotted by a passenger in a passing train who alerted police by mobile telephone. A fire crew attended to retrieve the body.

Official searches for Rikki, who lived in Sedbury and had strong connections in the Lydney area, had been scaled down since the young man climbed over the river bridge parapet and disappeared after a night out in Chepstow.

However a huge campaign was launched by family members, friends and well wishers to look for Rikki in the hope he had survived the fall and was possibly in hiding because of a pending court case in which he was one of four defendants. Last week the three remaining defendants were committed to stand trial at Gloucester in August on charges of affray and violence after hearing police were sure Rikki had killed himself.

Since the tragedy the bridge has been covered with floral tributes to Rikki and messages hoping he would be found safe and all would be well in the end – hopes sadly dashed this week.

Among the Facebook messages was one from Rikki's mother Clare Morgan who wrote: "For those who don't know, our lovely son Rikki has passed away. You are now safe and back home where you belong in the warm and dry, God bless my darling and now you can be at peace. Love and miss you so much xxxxx."

Well-wisher Katie Clark wrote: "R.I.P Rikki, our thoughts go out to the friends and family."

And Jade Easton said: "R.I.P Rikkoo will never forget you! Missing you loads! Sleep tight!

•The body of missing Soudley man Francis Young was found on Wednesday in Soudley ponds and his family has been informed. Mr Young had last spoken to family members on April 9 and a search was instigated on April 16.