Bodies of men missing years apart found 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 Park.

Back 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 again.

At 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 Valley.

It 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 missing.

North 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 day.

It 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 injured.

Despite "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 Valley.

It 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 earlier.

One 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."