The mother of Richard Okorogheye, whose body was found in a lake in Epping Forest, has told Sky News her heart “feels as if it has been ripped apart”.

Evidence Joel said she is “completely hollow and devastated and empty” after police confirmed yesterday that the body found in Essex on Monday was the 19-year-old’s.

“At this moment of time I just want answers as how my son lost his life. I want answers. I desperately need closure,” she told Sky News.

She said she will continue to support the police in order to find out what happened to her son.

Mr Okorogheye went missing after leaving his family home in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London on the evening of 22 March.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Police said they were informed by Essex Police that the body of a man was found in a lake in Epping Forest.