Latest news with #ShayneColaco
Sky News
2 hours 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
13 hours 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.'
Wales Online
17 hours ago
- Wales Online
Mystery of missing doctor solved 12 years after he vanished without trace
Mystery of missing doctor solved 12 years after he vanished without trace Shayne Eves Colaco, 33, disappeared after setting off for a walk alone in the summer of 2012 Psychiatrist Shayne Colaco went missing on the Carneddau mountains in the summer of 2012 (Image: North Wales Police ) The circumstances surrounding the unsolved disappearance of a successful doctor who vanished without trace and was later declared dead have finally become clear. In 2012 psychiatrist Shayne Eves Colaco, 33, disappeared while walking in Eryri, leaving behind only his parked car near Ogwen Cottage and an intended route plan. Having driven to Wales from the Stoke-on-Trent region he began walking towards 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen but he was never seen again. Despite numerous "cold case" reviews by Staffordshire Police Shayne's disappearance remained a mystery and he was declared dead six years later, NorthWalesLive reports. The case remained unsolved until a series of remarkable coincidences unfolded following another tragic incident 12 years later. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. On January 9, 2024, David Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, also vanished while walking alone in the Carneddau mountains. Article continues below David Brookfield, 65, was found four months after disappearing (Image: North Wales Police ) A massive search operation was launched involving mountain rescuers, a coastguard helicopter, drones, and dogs but it initially yielded no results. However, in a surprising turn of events, the search for David led to the discovery of Shayne's remains, finally bringing closure to the mystery of his disappearance. Four months on, on May 10, 2024, a blue jacket was spotted in the Ogwen Valley by a coastguard helicopter crew. The discovery was purely fortuitous as they were conducting a routine training exercise. It is believed that David, while descending from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen, entered the wide mouth of a gully where he fell and sustained serious injuries. When his body and belongings were being recovered mountain rescue volunteers stumbled upon something that would finally illuminate what had happened to Shayne. Sgt Paul Terry, of the North Wales Police drone unit, recounted the sequence of events. "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. Shayne Colaco's jacket was discovered on Pen yr Ole Wen during the recovery of David Brookfield's body (Image: North Wales Police ) "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." Sgt Terry began investigating what Shayne had been wearing and what car he had been driving at the time he went missing. He said: "I was quite amazed to find that the jacket was very similar to the one Shayne was wearing 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." After Shayne's possessions were found, a specialist mountain rescue drone operator conducted additional searches on Pen yr Ole Wen to locate his remains. Sgt Terry continued: "As the drone pilot stood in the spot where we had recovered David something quite incredible happened. "He spotted a piece of fabric under some brush and the debris that had washed down the gully and, quite incredibly, realised that he had also found the remains of Shayne Colaco. Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit (Image: North Wales Police ) "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. "One of the winchmen who located David from the helicopter was also part of RAF 22 Squadron looking for Shayne 12 years earlier. "This brings so many people together around two really sad stories but it shows the amazing willingness and determination of volunteers and the emergency services to find both these men." Sgt Terry said both men were experienced hikers who had prepared well but warned that "it's always possible that something will go wrong". He said: "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. Article continues below "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." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
