**Twelve-Year Mystery of Missing Psychiatrist Shayne Colaco Finally Brought to a Close after Accidental Discovery in Eryri Mountains**
After more than a decade of unanswered questions, the fate of psychiatrist Dr Shayne Eves Colaco, who vanished during a hiking trip in north Wales in 2012, has at last been revealed in a dramatic development linked to another tragic disappearance.
Dr Colaco, 33, was last seen in the summer of 2012, when he set off alone for a walk in the Carneddau mountains, part of the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. He had travelled from the Stoke-on-Trent area and parked near Ogwen Cottage before heading towards Pen yr Ole Wen, a peak towering at 3,209 feet. His disappearance triggered a large-scale search at the time, but despite subsequent cold case investigations by Staffordshire Police, no trace was ever found. After six years with no leads, the keen outdoorsman was officially declared dead.
The unanswered case lingered painfully for Dr Colaco’s relatives and prompted several reviews. It was not until another walker, David Brookfield, 65, was reported missing in January 2024 in the same mountain range, that fatefully, new light was shed on the circumstances of Colaco’s disappearance.
The search for Mr Brookfield also involved mountain rescue teams, police, specialist search dogs, and support from the coastguard, including helicopter crews and drone operators. Despite the thorough response, there was initially no sign of Mr Brookfield, compounding the sense of loss and uncertainty that already shadowed the region.
In a twist that would ultimately solve both cases, a coastguard helicopter team spotted a blue jacket caught in the undergrowth in the Ogwen Valley, entirely by chance during a training flight on 10 May 2024—four months after Mr Brookfield’s disappearance. When mountain rescue volunteers attended the location, their grim task revealed more than anyone could have imagined.
Sergeant Paul Terry, heading the North Wales Police drone unit, described how the jacket, although misplaced for the ongoing investigation into Mr Brookfield, led to further investigation. Notably, this garment appeared to have weathered the elements for some time and, tellingly, contained a car key in the pocket. This clue triggered memories among the searchers, several of whom remembered Dr Colaco’s case from 12 years prior.
Upon checking records, Sergeant Terry found that the jacket was indeed similar to one Dr Colaco had worn at the time he disappeared. A prompt examination of the car key indicated that it matched the Fiat Seicento that Colaco had left at the trailhead on the day of his disappearance. This was the vital connection that finally pointed to where he might be found.
With fresh focus, mountain rescue teams and specialist drone operators conducted a methodical search of the steep gully beneath Pen yr Ole Wen. During these operations, the remains of Dr Colaco were located amidst the debris—a poignant conclusion after so many years of uncertainty.
The discovery has had a profound effect on all involved, not least because several of the personnel searching for Mr Brookfield had also taken part in the original search for Dr Colaco. Even one of the winchmen, Sgt Terry remarked, had been present on both occasions, serving with the RAF’s 22 Squadron in 2012. Their dedication exemplifies the commitment of search and rescue volunteers and emergency service teams across the country.
Reflecting on the findings, Sergeant Terry highlighted that both Dr Colaco and Mr Brookfield had been experienced hikers who took their preparations seriously. However, the tragic stories underline the unpredictable nature of mountain environments, especially in Eryri, where weather conditions can change rapidly and terrain can prove more hazardous than it appears from above.
As the families of both men come to terms with the outcomes, their stories serve as a stark reminder of the risks faced by even the most seasoned visitors to Britain’s high places, as well as the persistence and compassion shown by those who never give up searching.
The resolution of Dr Colaco’s disappearance, whilst tinged with sorrow, brings long-awaited answers and closure to his loved ones, and offers a sombre lesson in the unpredictable power of nature and the interconnectedness of fate.