Police searching for a Colchester student who ran out of a hospital earlier this morning have found a body nearby.

Paulo Junior initially arrived at Stansted Airport at about 11pm yesterday, having travelled from his halls of residents near the University of Essex’s Colchester campus.

He was found in a mentally unstable condition which caused police concern.

As a result, paramedics took him to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

However, the 34-year-old man ran off from hospital staff at 2am today.

A search of the hospital grounds and surrounding area began, with the police helicopter also deployed at 2.30am to help officers on the ground.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Shortly before 8.30am, the body of a man was found less than a mile away in the grounds of a residential property.

“Officers at the scene believe this to be Paulo Junior and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, which is not being treated as suspicious.

“Although, the body is believed to be that of Paulo’s it will still be the subject of a formal identification procedure. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course to ascertain a cause of death.”