The heart-breaking mystery after a young man died on ‘paradise’ island
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Tresco, to most people, is a dream. Located 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall in the Isles of Scilly, the car-free island boasts crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. Everything there is owned and managed by the Dorrien-Smith family on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall. The island, just two miles long and one mile wide, has become synonymous with the rich and famous and is a favoured holiday spot for Prince William and Kate Middleton. ‘Tresco is one of those places you want to keep a secret,’ Tatler has previously declared.
![[Josh Clayton sitting inside a black car and smiling]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233742065-df5e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
For Tracey Clayton, the island is no dream – it’s synonymous with a nightmare, as it’s the place where her 23–year-old son, Josh, vanished in 2015 and was later found dead. ‘Josh absolutely loved Tresco, he called it paradise,’ Tracey tells Metro over Zoom from her home in Somerset, her Weimaraner dog sitting at her feet as she talks. ‘He would send me videos and tell me what it was like to see the rich and famous enjoying themselves, or point out unusual birds.
![[Photo shows last known location of Josh Clayton before his death A picture taken by police as part of investigation has been released following the end of his inquest]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234019047-49c6.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘However, the first time I visited Tresco, it was the Tuesday after Josh went missing so it was very stressful. I could never go back there now, there are too many bad memories.’. Josh worked at the Ruin Beach Café, a popular eatery where guests gazed out at white sands as they enjoyed their meals. It was his second season on the island and the hard worker was well respected among staff.
![[The death of Josh Clayton almost ten years ago is being covered in a 3 part documentary on discovery + called The Last Party: Death on Tresco, out on the 28th December. Josh was last seen at a party thrown by the wealthy Dorrien-Smith family on Tresco. His death was deemed an accident, however all is not as it seems. An investigation with many flaws opens more questions than answers. This documentary seeks to discover the flaws of the investigation and try to find more clarity on what happened to Josh. His death has been covered by the media before, however this film delves into more flaws of the investigation to try and find more clarity on what happened to Josh.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233742080-eb44.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
On a rainy Sunday on September 13, 2015, Josh headed to ‘The Shed’, a green building in an isolated corner of the island, where Tristan Dorrien-Smith, son of wealthy island landlord Robert, was hosting a private party. Josh spent several hours at the venue before leaving around 1.30am ahead of a 7am shift at the café. It was a rainy night with a new moon out, meaning there was no natural light at all on the tree-lined paths which led from the Shed to the staff accommodation.
