Latest news with #ShayneColaco
Sky News
24-07-2025
- Sky News
Demand on mountain rescue teams 'unsustainable' ahead of busy summer season
The demand on mountain rescue teams in North Wales is "unsustainable" ahead of what promises to be a busy summer season, according to emergency services. Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the area to experience the scenic views of Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, over the coming weeks. But mountain rescue teams and police on the ground are urging people to be prepared before scaling the heights of Wales 's largest national park. It comes after officers recently shared the tragic story of how volunteers discovered the remains of missing walkers David Brookfield and Shayne Colaco, the latter of whom had been missing for 12 years, on the same day last year. Owain Llewelyn, Chief Superintendent at North Wales Police, told Sky News there had been a "significant increase" in the number of visitors to the area since the lifting of COVID restrictions in 2021. "With that increase in numbers, we've seen a significant increase in demand as well," he said. "I think it's fair to say that this time of year, people who come to visit North Wales are really excited about their trip. "For the people who are part of mountain rescue teams and the blue light responders, it's actually the time of year in many ways we dread, because we know that that significant increase in demand is going to come." Chief Superintendent Llewellyn said it was important for people to understand their limits. "It's about understanding that the weather conditions on the summit can be dramatically different and it's about understanding that getting to the top is not the be all and end all of the day," he added. "So actually, if people are starting to get tired, it's about stopping, being realistic and turning round and just coming back down." He said the force was "amazingly lucky" to work alongside teams of mountain rescue volunteers, describing them as "an amazing bunch of people" who "put their lives at risk at times to help people who have got into difficulties in the mountains". One such volunteer is Chris Lloyd from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, who has given his time as part of the team since 1977. While a lot has changed in the last five decades, Mr Lloyd told Sky News there was "an increasing number of calls which are really unnecessary". So far this year, the team has responded to 103 callouts, while they received 121 in the whole of 2019. "We're all volunteers in all the rescue teams, we're not paid or anything, we do this just for the passion and the love of the mountains and so we go out to assist people, but there's a limit now," he said. "We all have domestic lives, we have work lives and we have to do this in our own time, to come out and rescue people. "So if we can reduce the callouts by getting people to be prepared, be better equipped, choosing the right route for the day, not taking on too much of a challenge, it'll save us, because otherwise we're going to burn out."
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Remains of missing doctor who vanished while walking alone found 12 years on
Shayne Colaco was walking alone in the Carneddau mountain range in Snowdonia when he went missing and his remains were amazingly found by complete chance 12 years on The remains of an experienced walker who went missing while trekking alone in Snowdonia were found 12 years on by a search and rescue team who were trying to locate a separate missing walker. Shayne Colaco disappeared in the summer of 2012 while walking alone in the Carneddau mountain range in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, North Wales. The psychiatrist, from Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, never returned to his car and he was reported missing to Staffordshire Police. While the desperate search for the 33-year-old was subject to 'cold case' reviews, Dr Colaco's body remained unfound and he was pronounced deceased in November 2018. At the time coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones described the circumstances as "puzzling" but all that changed in May last year, reports StokeonTrent Live. David Brookfield, 65, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire went missing while hiking in the Carneddau range on January 9, 2024 but his body was not found until four months later, with coastguard helicopter crews making the discovery during a routine training exercise. It was during this recovery that Mr Colaco's body was found by complete chance. Sergeant Paul Terry, of the North Wales Police drone unit, assisted in the recovery of the two men and has shared details of exactly what happened. 'This story and these circumstances really are quite exceptional, and my thoughts and feelings are very much with both David and Shayne's families as we tell the public about this story," he said. "While we were carrying out the investigation process into David's death, a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about five meters 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 12 years earlier." Sergeant Terry investigated what Mr Colaco had been wearing when he disappeared and also looked into what car he was driving at the time. '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, and 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," he said. A specialist mountain rescue drone operator carried out further investigation on Pen yr Ole Wen and this led to his body's discovery. Sgt Terry added: 'As the drone pilot was stood 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. 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 described both men as experienced walkers and insisted their deaths highlighted the dangers of walking in Eryri. "It's always possible that something will go wrong,' he warned. "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. "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. And so, I have a very simple safety message - be prepared."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- 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
19-06-2025
- 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
19-06-2025
- 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
