THE body of a girl found floating in a river estuary in Spain was last night identified as missing Mari Luz Cortes.

The five-year-olds parents feared she had been snatched like Madeleine McCann when she vanished on January 13.

Last night Maddies parents Kate and Gerry were extremely saddened.

Mari had gone to buy crisps from a stall yards from home in Huelva.

Skull

Her decomposed body still in her pink leotard was spotted at 4pm by a security guard at a port near the city. Reports said she had a face wound and fractured skull.

Huelva is less than two hours drive from Praia da Luz where Maddie, four, disappeared on holiday in Portugal last May.

The McCanns, both 39, of Rothley, Leics, said their thoughts and prayers were with parents Juan Jose, 34, and Irene, who had been sure Mari was being held alive.

The McCanns spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: They had developed a sense of unity with Mari Luzs parents. Both families were going through similar agonies.