In brief
The lifeless bodies of Dawn and Andrew Searle, both in their sixties, were discovered at their residence in south-west France, prompting a wave of condolences and requests for privacy from their surviving family members.
The death of a beloved couple has left their family in mourning, with actor Callum Kerr openly expressing the family's sorrow after the tragic discovery of his parents’ bodies in France. Dawn Searle and her husband, Andrew, were found by a concerned neighbor at their home in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès. The couple, originally from Scotland, had settled in the area about a decade ago, embracing the rural lifestyle.Callum Kerr, known for his roles in Hollyoaks and Netflix’s Virgin River, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message about his mother and father. He urged respect for the family's privacy during this unimaginably difficult time, while requesting updates be shared as appropriate. “At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (née Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle,” he wrote.Local authorities, including Mayor Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, have characterized the couple's deaths as likely homicide, although investigations are ongoing and details remain sparse. The couple's home has been sealed off as forensics teams, equipped with advanced technology such as drones and helicopters, scour the area for clues. Despite various suspicions, the precise cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and police have yet to open a criminal case.The Searles were well integrated into their community, having often socialized with neighbors who, like them, were expats. The couple had moved from Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, to France, further deepening their roots in the picturesque village life. British Foreign Office representatives are currently providing support to the family as they navigate this heartbreaking situation, highlighting the loss felt not just by the family, but by the community that embraced the Searles.
