On Saturday 3rd November Mr Graham Roskell went missing from Harrogate hospital. Shortly after the hospital staff raised the alarm and called the police. In turn North Yorkshire Police called on the services of Mountain Rescue to search part of the route between Harrogate and Kirk Hammerton, where Graham Roskell lived.
Three of our members were involved in the National Mountain Rescue (England & Wales) Party Leaders Course, hosted by Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team, one of the teams drafted in to this search. On reaching the area, Swaledale MRT decided to call in the extra resources available from the course. (See Incident 77/2012 of Saturday 3rd November).
The following day and the Thursday of that week saw North Yorkshire Police call on our specialist skills of SARDA Wales Search Dog and Bolton MRT team callout member Steve Nelson and dog Boris, along with navigator Elaine Gilliland. (See Incidents 78/2012 and 80/2012 of Sunday 4th and Thursday 8th November).
Today the following statement was released by North Yorkshire Police:
Police searching for missing Harrogate man Graham Roskell can confirm that a body has been found.
The body was found by a member of the public in a wooded area off York Road, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, at around 11.40am on Wednesday 14 November 2012.
Mr Roskell’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers from North Yorkshire Police.
Formal identification of the body will take place in due course.
Superintendent Aubrey Smith, the Harrogate Safer Neighbourhood Commander, said: “My thoughts and indeed those of everyone at North Yorkshire Police are with Mr Roskell’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
“The past 11 days have been very traumatic for them. I would like to thank everyone, particularly all the members of the public and volunteers who have supported the search, for their hard work and dedication during the efforts to locate Mr Roskell.”
All at Bolton Mountain Rescue would like to extend our condolences to the family of Mr Graham Roskell.
