**Family Endures Nine Weeks of Uncertainty After Father Disappears Near Welsh Beach**
It has now been over nine weeks since 38-year-old Ashley Wilbraham vanished near Ynyslas Beach following what should have been a joyful family outing, and still, his family are left without answers. Despite weeks of appealing to the public and exhaustive searches by Dyfed-Powys Police, Ashley’s sudden disappearance continues to cast a long shadow of confusion and heartbreak over his loved ones.
Ashley was last seen around 6:45pm on Sunday, 23 February, near Ynyslas Beach in Ceredigion. The Wilbraham family — residents of Rhayader — had travelled to Borth, enjoying what was meant to be an annual getaway in a familiar rental home. The trip, brimming with tradition and anticipation, unexpectedly turned to tragedy when Ashley disappeared without a trace.
Recounting the events leading up to Ashley’s disappearance, his mother, Janine, detailed the family’s final day together. “Ashley was really happy. He had so much to look forward to. He was talking about Crufts, his daughter’s upcoming 14th birthday, and a holiday to Ireland. He was even excited about learning to cook steak for his dad,” Janine shared. “There were no signs that anything was wrong; he just seemed his usual self.”
The Wilbrahams’ Sunday had passed much like any other family holiday day: after a meal together, some of the group went out for a walk with the dogs, while Ashley and his 15-year-old son went to watch a football match at a local bar. By all accounts, the pair were in high spirits, with CCTV later showing them laughing and dancing as they left the venue around 6:30pm.
However, circumstances changed rapidly. Ashley called his mother for a lift back to the rental property from a bus stop near the beach, mentioning he’d left his coat behind at the restaurant. When Janine’s sister Sandie and her granddaughters arrived to collect him, Ashley was agitated. Notably, his son was not with him. There had apparently been a small disagreement, and in the confusion, Ashley grew increasingly distressed, reportedly worried about his daughter’s whereabouts despite her being safely at home.
What unfolded in those fraught moments has left the family reeling. Janine described how Ashley, overcome by agitation and confusion, jumped out of the car and ran towards the dunes, desperate to find his son. “It was like a psychotic episode — totally out of character for him. I really think the alcohol played a part. He wasn’t himself,” Janine explained.
Attempts to find Ashley that night were hindered by severe weather conditions. The police, unable to launch helicopters or boats due to the storm, canvassed the area on foot. The Wilbraham family, joined by local residents, searched with night vision cameras, but their efforts yielded no results.
Dyfed-Powys Police have continued their efforts over the ensuing weeks, appealing to the public to check outbuildings, garages, sheds, and vacant caravans in case Ashley had sought shelter. The force has also urged people to report any sightings, including any abandoned clothing in the area, and to share CCTV or dashcam footage from the area on the night in question.
In the wake of Ashley’s disappearance, his family are struggling to come to terms with the uncertainty. “His daughter is really struggling, and his siblings are lost without him. We are a close-knit family and he was just the friendliest person — he’d make friends with everyone,” Janine said quietly. Members of the local community have also expressed their disbelief at Ashley’s disappearance, with many joining the search and supporting the family during this difficult time.
Despite the heartbreak and the ever-mounting weeks without answers, the Wilbrahams refuse to give up hope. “I’m terrified whenever the phone rings that it will be bad news. But more than anything, we need to know what happened to him. Not knowing is unbearable,” Janine shared.
Dyfed-Powys Police remains committed to the search, urging anyone with information to come forward. Anyone who may have seen Ashley, or who may have footage or other details that could aid the search, is asked to contact the police. Ashley is described as approximately 6’2” tall, of thin build, with brown hair, and was last seen in blue jeans, a blue checked shirt, and black leather shoes.
For the Wilbraham family, and all those involved in the search, the hope remains that answers will come and that Ashley will somehow find his way home.