Body recovered from River Calder identified as missing 81-year-old Colin Vasey

Friday, 20 December 2019 10:15

A body found in the River Calder in the search for a missing 81-year-old has been identified as Colin Vasey.

Mr Vasey was reported missing on November 17, with CCTV images showing him walking briskly along Leeds Road, wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown.

There was a massive community response to Mr Vasey’s disappearance, with several people volunteering to contribute to the search effort.

However, following a month of searching, police divers searching the River Calder found the body of a man near to the building yard at Horbury Bridge at around 12.50pm on Tuesday.

Following the identification process the body was confirmed to be Mr Vasey. His family have been informed.

Speaking on the recovery of the body, Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Gaffney, of Kirklees CID, said: “This wasn’t the outcome we were wishing for, but we hope Mr Vasey’s family will now have the closure they need and can begin to grieve for Colin.

“They have requested that their privacy is respected at this time.”

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