A young man found dead at the foot of cliffs in Dover has been named as Swiss student Alexander Chamberlain.

The 24-year-old's body was discovered after emergency crews were called to concerns for a person's welfare at around 6.30am last Tuesday.

An inquest into his death was opened at adjourned at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone today.

The hearing was told Mr Chamberlain was from Switzerland but living in London while he studied at university there.

A search involving coastguard and lifeboat crews was launched after he was reported missing by his brother, who had received a text message suggesting he was making his way to Dover to end his life.

Pathologist Dr Salim Anjarwalla carried out the post-mortem examination at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, and gave the cause of death as multiple injuries, pending toxicology reports.

The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday, February 7.

Dover coastguard, helicopter and lifeboat crews carried out a search of Fan Bay from Dover towards St Margaret's on Tuesday morning.

James Clapham, coxswain for Dover RNLI lifeboat the City of London II, said: "We were joined by HM Coastguard's Rescue 163 Helicopter to search for the male concerned.

"The helicopter crew located a sighting beneath the cliffs near to Langdon Steps at approximately 7am".

A smaller in-shore inflatable lifeboat known as a Y-boat was launched to reach and recover the body from the shore under the cliffs.

Dover RNLI Coxswain James Clapham said: "Sadly this wasn't the outcome we ever expect or like to find, it's very distressing for family and friends of the deceased.

"We would like to share our sincere condolences to those concerned.

"We would also like to thank and provide continued support to our volunteer crew members who braved the task in hand."

A police spokesman said: "Police were alerted by Dover Coastguard at 7.15am about the reported discovery of a man’s body at the foot of Langdon Cliffs.

"Police are not currently treating the circumstances as suspicious."