A 22-year-old climate activist was found dead in Richmond Park this week.

Xavier Gonzalez-Trimmer, who was part of the campaigning group Insulate Britain and also took part in Just Stop Oil protests, had been missing for a week.

His family and friends had been searching the park after his bicycle was found there.

Xavier was a major figure in climate change activism and had been arrested 16 times in relation to protest actions, with five hearings on different charges coming up this year.

He was due to stand trial at Inner London crown court next month accused of causing a public nuisance, one of more than 50 trials of Insulate Britain supporters due to take place at that court this year.

Xavier was among a group of three protestors, along with Joe Howlett and Sam Johnson, who were arrested in West Thurrock last September after digging a tunnel under a busy road in a protest against road building.

A missing person poster circulated on social media by friends said Gonzalez-Trimmer had left home on February 15 with his bicycle but without his ID, wallet or any cash. By Monday, searches had focused on Richmond Park after his bicycle was found there.

Fellow Giovanna Lewis, an Insulate Britain supporter, tole the Guardian he was loved by all in their movement.

"He had a big smile and the smile just flooded out of him. That was the man that Xavier was. He was special," she said.

The Metropolitan police said it had received a report on February 16 that Gonzalez-Trimmer had gone missing, and that officers had made inquiries to try to locate him.

The force said: "On 20 February, the body of a man was found in Richmond Park – the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.'

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