Police have issued a new appeal for a dad who disappeared whilst on a walking trip in the Scottish Highland one year ago.
Retired nurse Neil Skinner, 71, had been holidaying with two friends near remote Loch Dochard, Bridge of Orchy, in Argyll and Bute when he was reported missing on May 9 last year. He was last seen the day before.
Despite an extensive police investigation using sniffer dogs, drones, helicopters and diving teams, the dad of four has never been found.
Neil, from Doncaster in Yorkshire, had left his wallet, phone, clothes, rucksack and specialist walking poles and had already begun preparing his breakfast.
He is described as 5ft 8in tall, with short white hair, a white goatee-type beard and wearing glasses. He was last seen wearing a green jacket and grey walking trousers.
Earlier this year, Neil's distraught daughter Kate Armitage, 44, called in search and rescue experts in a desperate bid to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance.
Members of the specialist volunteer Beneath the Surface team agreed to try and find him and have organised a new ground search for the end of the month, to mark the anniversary of his disappearance. The search will involve mountain rescue experts and experienced hillwalkers.
Kate, who lives in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said she has given up hope of finding her dad alive. But she would like to recover his body so she can finally lay him to rest.
She added: “The police have told me they have never come across a case like this before and are shocked that they haven’t been able to find him by now.
“I am very grateful that Beneath the Surface have offered their services.
"It is torture not knowing what has happened to dad. All we want to do is find his body and give him a decent funeral.
Scots police said they have kept in touch with Neil's family over the last year.
Inspector Lee Page said: “Neil has now been missing for a year and we know what a difficult period this has been for his family and friends.
“Neil was last seen in the Loch Dochard area near Bridge of Orchy on Sunday, 8 May, 2022.
“Sadly, despite extensive police enquiries and searches by officers and our partners, he remains missing.
“We have kept in regular contact with his family during what has been an incredibly difficult time for them and we will continue to support them in any way we can.
“Any new information received will continue to be investigated fully and I would urge anyone with information on Neil’s whereabouts to contact police on 101, quoting reference 3773 of 9 May, 2022.”
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