Repeat search for missing Newton Abbot man

Following last night’s callout to Cold East Cross for Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers looking for a missing Newton Abbot male in his forties, the team were called out again this evening to cover another search area highlighted by the Police that they wished to clear as part of the investigation into the man’s disappearance.

The ground covered last night and tonight turned out to be challenging with dense fern, gorse and bramble meaning low Probability of Detection’ (PoD) scores. PoD gives an indication on how thoroughly a particular search area can be swept. In an ideal world this would be 100% but in areas such as woodland or common land with dense gorse it can be almost impossible to achieve 100% and hence in reality on most searches a lower score can only be achieved.

Once priority search areas have been covered, the Police can then request a a second search in some areas to try and increase the PoD score as a missing person investigation continues. resources at there disposal includes search teams, air assets such as the Police and HM Coastguard helicopters for aerial searches and of course, search dogs.

Further intelligence from a member of the public was received mid way through our search which gave a sighting of the missing person near Teigngrace. Police were dispatched to the area and shortly afterwards the man was found and given the care he needed and we were stood down.