DRESSED in full riding gear, he parked his car at one of Britain's best-known locations - and walked to his death in the sea below.Today the tragedy of the unknown Suffolk man, who's body was found at Land's End on the Cornish coast, was being investigated by police and a coroner.

DRESSED in full riding gear, he parked his car at one of Britain's best-known locations - and walked to his death in the sea below.

Today the tragedy of the unknown Suffolk man, whose body was found at Land's End on the Cornish coast, was being investigated by police and a coroner.

The 43-year-old man, believed to be from Nedging with Naughton, near Stowmarket was discovered on Sunday after leaving a note, wallet, mobile phone and driving licence on the passenger seat of his parked car.

Devon and Cornwall police are yet to name the deceased, but the force confirmed he had been reported missing two weeks before his death.

He was last seen walking towards a coastal path on Saturday afternoon in driving rain, dressed in full riding gear.

Coastguards launched an extensive land, air and sea search on Sunday morning when he did not return to his green Peugeot estate, before a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose spotted his body washed up at Merthen Point.

Roy Stevenson, owner of the nearby Lamorna Cove cafe, said: “It was remarkable because he was a very smartly dressed man - in knee-high hunting boots, Barbour jacket and a waxed hat. He just left the car and walked off.

“We called the police on Sunday morning when we saw the car was still there and unlocked, and they retrieved his ID and bits and pieces. It's very sad.

“It's unusual to see someone dressed that way and he was obviously involved in hunting because there were stickers on the car.”

Two lifeboats from Penlee, a Royal Navy helicopter and the coastguard's cliff rescue team battled against high winds and heavy seas to find the man.

His body was stretchered up from the rocks after two of the rescue team were winched down.

Dave Jackson, of the Land's End Cliff Rescue Team, said: “Retrieving the body was quite a difficult operation as there was a big sea coming in and a lot of sea spray.”

The Cornwall Coroner's office said the man may be identified within the next few days.

Do you know the identity of the man? Call the Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324840 or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk