A large-scale search for an 84-year-old man who went missing near York has been called off following the discovery of a body.
John Symington, from Dundee, Scotland, was reported missing at 5.24pm on Wednesday (June 3). He got off a coach at the Breezy Knees Nurseries in Warthill near Stockton-on-the-Forest at 3.45pm the same day.
Police search officers, supported by search and rescue team members and a police helicopter, have been scouring the area in the effort to locate Mr Symington.
A body of a man was located in a wooded area about 400 metres from Breezy Knees Nurseries at around 1pm on Thursday (June 4).
Mr Symington’s family have been informed about the sad discovery, although formal identification has yet to take place.
Police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death which has been reported to the coroner.
Local residents and the media are thanked for their valuable support during the search.
From June 4, 2014 @ 08.32
Elderly man, 84, goes missing near York – urgent appeal to help find him
An 84-year-old man has gone missing near York and police are asking for the public’s help to find him.
John Symington was last seen getting off a coach at the Breezy Knees Nurseries in Warthill, near Stockton on the Forest, at 3.45pm on Wednesday (June 3).
He failed to return to the coach and police were alerted. Mr Symington, is from Dundee, Scotland. Description below.
Mr Symington is described as…
white | about 6ft tall | of slim build | fair complexion | with receding white hair which is curly at the back. |
He is wearing
a brown jacket | grey trousers | and is carrying a white knitted bag. |
Extensive searches involving specially trained police officers, Search and Rescue and the police helicopter, have so far failed to locate Mr Symington.
The search effort resumed at 4.30am on Thursday (June 4).
Inspector Mark Henderson, from the North Yorkshire Police, said:
How to help the police