Latest news with #ShayneColaco
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Eryri police find bodies of men missing years apart in same spot
It was a mystery that left detectives baffled after a 33-year-old doctor vanished without a trace while walking in Eryri National in August 2012 Shayne Colaco, 33, from Stoke-on-Trent, had been hiking in the Carneddau range in north Wales when he did not return to his car. He was not seen the time, the experienced hiker's disappearance sparked an extensive operation by air and on foot, with the search described by experts as a "needle in a haystack" in the Ogwen was not until 12 years later that a vital clue led to the discovery of Mr Colaco's body in May 2024, only metres away from fellow hiker David Brookfield who had disappeared months before the discovery and died while walking in the same area. Mr Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, had been walking alone on 9 January 2024 when he went Wales Police said Mr Brookfield had sent a text to his wife from the top of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no further contact was ever received. The experienced walker had intended to complete an "amazing" 15km (nine mile) route in good weather, police said, but with forecasts that it would deteriorate throughout the is believed he entered the broad mouth of a gully during his descent from his final summit at Pen yr Ole Wen when he fell and became seriously "extensive searches in challenging winter weather conditions", Mr Brookfield could not be found."The weather worsened, snow continued to fall... after the first couple of weeks we realised there wasn't any more we could do from the ground," said Sgt Paul Terry, of North Wales Police. Four months after his disappearance, coastguard helicopter crews discovered Mr Brookfield's body after seeing a glimpse of blue while carrying out a routine training exercise through the Ogwen was during his recovery that volunteers also located a single item of clothing that led them to find the remains of Mr Colaco. Sgt Terry, who assisted the rescue of the two bodies, said the circumstances were "exceptional" as many of the volunteers working on the rescue were involved in the initial search for Mr Colaco 12 years of the winchmen who located Mr Brookfield from the helicopter was also part of RAF squadron looking for Mr Colaco."It shows the amazing willingness and determination of volunteers and the emergency services to find both these men."Sgt Terry said it was while investigating Mr Brookfield's death that a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about 5m (16ft) further down the gully. "The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key," he said. "Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier."Sgt Terry said he was "amazed" to find the jacket was very similar to the one Mr Colaco was wearing on the day he went missing. Further investigations then confirmed the key in the pocket was the key to his car, a Fiat Seicento."Suddenly, we realised we may have a clue as to where he may have been all this time." A mountain rescue drone operator then helped find Mr Colaco's body. It is now believed his descent from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen took the same fatal turn as Mr Brookfield's. Sharing the tragic story, Sgt Terry voiced his condolences to the men's families and friends, as well as warning of the dangers of walking in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia. He said both men ended up in very dangerous ground, "which might have seemed inviting from the summit, but as it got steeper and more broken, it became harder"."It's important to understand the scale of these hills and the impact of weather – and how quickly it can change," he said. "We want you to come and enjoy these beautiful mountains in Eryri, it is amazing, but come and be safe and enjoy it."And so, I have a very simple safety message - be prepared."
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate
Both men were well prepared and experienced hikers CHILLING ECHOES Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate THE MYSTERY of a missing doctor who vanished in a Welsh national park has finally been solved twelve years later. Psychiatrist Shayne Eves Colaco went for a walk in the Carneddau mountains in Eryri - also called Snowdonia - when he disappeared. 5 Rescue teams out searching for Shayne Colaco in the Welsh mountains Credit: Daily Post Wales 5 The search for David Brookfield led to the discovery of another missing walker Credit: Daily Post Wales 5 Shayne Eves Colaco's remains were found in Snowdonia after twelve years Credit: Daily Post Wales He drove from Stoke-on-Trent in the summer of 2012 and set off walking towards 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen. But he didn't return to his Fiat car and was never seen again. Despite searches, cops couldn't find him and he was declared dead six six later, despite his body remaining undiscovered. Fast forward to January last year, when David Brookfield, 65, also vanished in the Welsh Carneddau mountains. He WhatsApped his wife from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no one ever heard from him again. For four months, searches were carried out to no avail. But in May 2024, a blue jacket was sighted in the Ogwen Valley by a passing coastguard helicopter on a routine training exercise. It is believed David had fallen in a gully and was seriously injured on his descent from the mountain. While his body was recovered, mountain rescue made another change discovery. They spotted another jacket further down the gully, that looked far older and seemed to have been there for some time. Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit recalled to North WalesLive: 'The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key. 'Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier.' As the cops investigated further, they were "amazed" to find that the details matched up with the missing hiker. So they resumed the search for Shayne in another bid to find him and bring peace to his family. A drone pilot then noticed a piece of fabric under a bush in the gully. Sgt Terry continued: 'Quite incredibly, [he] realised that he had also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco. 'What's really so amazing about this story is that so many of the people involved in searching for David had also been involved in the searches 12 years before for Shayne." David and Shane were both experienced walkers who were well prepared, and Sgt Terry warned hikers that it's important to understand the danger of the hills and weather. 5 The peak of Pen yr Ole Wen is seen in the distance Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Blue coat & abandoned Fiat -how case of missing psychiatrist was only solved 12 years on when another man met same fate
THE MYSTERY of a missing doctor who vanished in a Welsh national park has finally been solved twelve years later. Psychiatrist Shayne Eves Colaco went for a walk in the Carneddau mountains in Eryri - also called 5 Rescue teams out searching for Shayne Colaco in the Welsh mountains Credit: Daily Post Wales 5 The search for David Brookfield led to the discovery of another missing walker Credit: Daily Post Wales 5 Shayne Eves Colaco's remains were found in Snowdonia after twelve years Credit: Daily Post Wales He drove from But he didn't return to his Fiat car and was never seen again. Despite searches, cops couldn't find him and he was declared dead six six later, despite his body remaining undiscovered. Fast forward to January last year, when David Brookfield, 65, also vanished in the Welsh Carneddau mountains. Read more He WhatsApped his wife from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no one ever heard from him again. For four months, searches were carried out to no avail. But in May 2024, a blue jacket was sighted in the Ogwen Valley by a passing coastguard helicopter on a routine training exercise. It is believed David had fallen in a gully and was seriously injured on his descent from the mountain. Most read in The Sun While his body was recovered, mountain rescue made another change discovery. They spotted another jacket further down the gully, that looked far older and seemed to have been there for some time. Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit recalled to 'The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key. 'Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier.' As the cops investigated further, they were "amazed" to find that the details matched up with the missing hiker. So they resumed the search for Shayne in another bid to find him and bring peace to his family. A drone pilot then noticed a piece of fabric under a bush in the gully. Sgt Terry continued: 'Quite incredibly, [he] realised that he had also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco. 'What's really so amazing about this story is that so many of the people involved in searching for David had also been involved in the searches 12 years before for Shayne." David and Shane were both experienced walkers who were well prepared, and Sgt Terry warned hikers that it's important to understand the danger of the hills and weather. 5 The peak of Pen yr Ole Wen is seen in the distance Credit: Getty 5 Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police revealed how amazed the team was Credit: Daily Post Wales
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sky News
Search for walker solves 12-year missing person mystery
Why you can trust Sky News The mystery surrounding what happened to a missing walker has been solved 12 years after he disappeared. The remains of 33-year-old Shayne Colaco were found last year after search teams found 65-year-old David Brookfield. Mr Brookfield, who was described as an experienced walker, was walking alone in the Carneddau mountain range on 9 January 2024 when he went missing. His wife received a text from him at the top of Carnedd Llewelyn, but received no further contact. North Wales Police say it is believed Mr Brookfield, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, entered the broad mouth of a gully during his descent from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen, where he fell and became seriously injured. During challenging winter weather conditions, Mr Brookfield could not be found, and it wasn't until four months later on 10 May 2024 that his body was discovered by Coastguard helicopter crews during a routine training exercise. The doctor from the Stoke-on-Trent area had been walking in the Carneddau range around 12 years earlier. Mr Colaco never returned to his car and was never seen again. Police believe his descent from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen took the same turn as Mr Brookfield's. Sergeant Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit, said his thoughts were with both men's families as the force shared the story with the public. "While we were carrying out the investigation process into David's death, a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about five metres further down the gully," he said. "The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key. "Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier." Highlighting the dangers of walking in Eryri (the national park also known as Snowdonia), Sgt Terry said that, despite both men being experienced walkers, "it's always possible that something will go wrong". "Eryri is an incredible place, it's beautiful, and on a good day, the mountains look achievable and accessible. But it's important to understand the scale of these hills and the impact of weather - and how quickly it can change," he said.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
How the disappearance of a father led to solving the mystery of a missing doctor who vanished just days before starting a new job more than a decade ago
A solitary winter hike in the Snowdonia mountains ended in tragedy for a father from Lancashire but what rescuers found next would finally unravel the mystery of a missing psychiatrist who vanished more than a decade earlier. David Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, went missing on January 9, 2023, after setting out alone into the Carneddau range in Snowdonia National Park. The experienced walker had sent a text to his wife from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, one of the highest peaks in Wales. But he never returned. Despite extensive searches amid treacherous winter conditions, it wasn't until May 10 - four months later - that a coastguard helicopter crew, carrying out a training mission in the Ogwen Valley, spotted his body in a steep gully on Pen yr Ole Wen. But the grim discovery would lead to an even more astonishing revelation. In the same gully, hidden under thick undergrowth and debris, were the remains of another man - Dr Shayne Colaco, a 33-year-old psychiatrist from Stoke-on-Trent, who had vanished in 2012 while hiking the same peak. Speaking after the discovery, Sergeant Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit, who helped recover both men, described the case as one of the most extraordinary he has seen in his career. 'This story and these circumstances really are quite exceptional. My thoughts and feelings are very much with both David and Shayne's families.' He explained how the breakthrough came during the investigation into David Brookfield's death, when a member of the mountain rescue team spotted a jacket around five metres further down the gully. 'While we were carrying out the investigation into David's death, a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about five metres further down the gully. 'The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key. 'Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area twelve years earlier.' The jacket sparked immediate interest, especially once rescuers remembered Dr Colaco's disappearance in the exact same location. 'I was quite amazed to find that the jacket was very similar to the one Shayne Colaco was wearing on the day he went missing. 'Following further investigations, we managed to confirm the key in the pocket was the key to Shayne's car, a Fiat Seicento. 'Suddenly, we realised we may have a clue as to where he may have been all this time.' That lead prompted a renewed search, this time focused on the gully on Pen yr Ole Wen, using drone technology and specialist recovery techniques. 'As the drone pilot was standing in the spot we had recovered David, something quite incredible happened. 'He noticed a piece of fabric under some brush and the detritus that had washed down the gully – and, quite incredibly, realised that he has also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco.' The discovery brought an emotional conclusion to a case that had baffled police, devastated Shayne Colaco's family, and left many questions unanswered for 12 long years. Dr Colaco had left his car near Ogwen Cottage in 2012, planning a hike up 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen, just before starting a new medical role. He was never seen again. It is now believed that both men fell into the same hidden gully, during separate hikes years apart - terrain described as dangerous and deceptive, particularly in poor weather. 'What's really so amazing about this story is that so many of the people involved in searching for David had also been involved in the searches twelve years before for Shayne. 'One of the winchmen who located David from the helicopter was also part of the RAF squadron looking for Shayne twelve years earlier.' As summer brings thousands of walkers to Snowdonia, police and mountain rescue teams are now urging caution — reminding visitors that even experienced hikers can come to harm in remote and unforgiving areas. 'In both these cases, David and Shayne ended up in ground which really is very dangerous, which might have seemed inviting from the summit, but as it got steeper and more broken, it became harder.'
