With new information on the possible whereabouts of the missing 74 year man, (see previous two incident reports), GMP focused their search effort on the Doffcocker and High Rid reservoir areas to the north west of Bolton.

Again we were requested to join in with Police search efforts during the daytime, to assemble for an early evening start.

We rarely control search and rescue operations directly from our Ladybridge Hall base, (warmth, toilets, chairs, hot water!) but the closeness of the intended search areas enabled us to do so for this evening’s search.
As such we were able to make ready use of our base IT mapping systems and printers.

This time water bodies were also searched (by our canoe/kayak unit), but again despite the best efforts of all involved, the search drew yet another blank, with the man’s whereabouts still not determined, and considerable concern now being mounted for his welfare.

All likely immediate search areas have now been covered and although Police enquiries are obviously continuing, until new intelligence is available no further areas for intensive searching can be identified.

The following resources were deployed on the evening of today’s search:

• Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, 33x Call Out List members, and two Support Group members. (thanks for the excellent catering, hot drinks on demand and 50x chip and sausage barmcakes – that was some order at the Fish and Chip shop!)
• Cheshire Lowland Search and Rescue Team, 10x members.
• Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team, 4x members.
• Greater Manchester Police, Divisional Officers 2x, Missing Person Search Managers, Tactical Aid Unit team, Police Community Support Officers.
• Lancashire Constabulary Air Support Unit helicopter.

We have calculated that just for the involvement of our team members alone, we have contributed a minimum of 900 search person ’man hours’ into the overall search effort over a full day and two evening consecutive search operation, most of which took place under terrible ground conditions and in driving rain, torrential at times.