When did Amy Louise Gerard go missing in Tenerife and what has her husband said?
The whale and dolphin trainer has not been seen since leaving a bar on Thursday, November 29
A FRANTIC search was launched in Tenerife for Amy Louise Gerard who went missing after a night out.
Here's what you need to know about the British expat and the latest in the missing persons case.
When did Amy Gerard go missing?
Amy Louise Gerard, 28, is an animal trainer who lives in Puerto de la Cruz in the north of holiday island Tenerife.
is feared to have died in a tragic "accident" after a body was found in "with bruises" in the sea off the coast of Tenerife.
The body was discovered in the sea opposite the lighthouse in the city of Puerto de la Cruz where Amy lived.
The 28-year-old whale trainer vanished outside the Molly Malone Irish bar in the town on Thursday, November 29.
Also known as Amy Louise Docherty, she left the bar at 12.20am with her German boyfriend Dennis Kissling but has not been seen since.
A police helicopter spotted a body floating in the sea around 11am this morning close to the lighthouse at Puerto de la Cruz.
Minutes later a Red Cross lifeboat raced to the scene and the woman’s body was pulled onboard.
It returned to the harbour were police held blankets up to prevent holidaymakers and a crowd watching the recovery operation.
Police are expected to confirm it is that of Amy in the next 24 hours, although they admitted DNA tests may be necessary and delay official identification because of the state the body is in from hitting against rocks in the area.
Councillor Pedro Gonzales told The Sun: "We are pretty certain it is the body of the missing British girl. We have only one woman missing and it’s a woman’s body that has been found.
A police spokesman confirmed: "I can confirm a woman’s body has been found in the sea. It is too early to say at this stage whether it is that of the missing Brit or not."
In surreal scenes holidaymakers carried on drinking and swimming as a dark coloured private ambulance arrived to take away the body.
Police said they had found bruises on the body.
A source close to the inquiry said: "The body was in a very bad state. A post-mortem will take place later. It is far too early at this stage to determine how death occurred and whether it was accidental or not."
An eye-witness said: "A helicopter was hovering near the sea wall and a few moments later a boat involved in the search operation, a Red Cross rigid-inflatable boat, went out with its light flashing.
Amy, from Grimsby, Lincs, works as a whale and dolphin trainer at Tenerife marine theme park Loro Parque.
Photos on social media show her puckering up to a dolphin and playfully pulling faces with a sea lion.
What has Amy's husband said?
University grad Amy is believed to be still married to estranged husband Ryan Docherty, who lives in the UK.
He has also shared appeals for information online.
He said in one post: "Please share and help to spread the word. This beauty has been missing since late Thursday evening in Puerto de la Cruz.
"Although we are not in Tenerife we can possibly reach someone that knows something!!!!"
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Friend Tonette Smith said: “Amy has been missing since Thursday midnight. She loves her work and is grounded, she is not flighty.
“Amy is beautiful inside and outside.”
Laura Mumby said alongside a photo of Amy on a missing poster: “If you or anyone you know is going to Tenerife or the Canary Islands soon, please keep an eye out for Amy who has been missing since Thursday.
“We are all very concerned. This is so out of character.”
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