George was found dead ten days after he disappeared
The heartbroken family of a grandad found dead ten days after he disappeared said he “took a wrong turn and couldn’t find his way home”. George Fewtrell, 85, from Neston in Wirral went missing on Tuesday, June 25, after reportedly setting off on foot towards Flintshire in north-east Wales.
He was last captured on CCTV on Greenfield Street at the junction with New Road at 12.42am on Wednesday, June 26. A police search was launched to look for George as residents were urged to look in their sheds and outbuildings.
Police drones and dogs were brought in alongside specialist police officers involved in the search. Tragically, ten days later, police discovered a body which was later identified as George.
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Grandson, Jacob Ross, 30, said his grandad would go for walks quite regularly. Jacob told the ECHO: “He was just a loving grandad. He enjoyed a pint in a pub. He was very active when he was younger. He had quite a lot of kids and grandkids.
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“It was very hard but I have to say the community of Neston really came together. He drank in the Malt Shovel which was his local – people from there helped out.
“The Welsh police and the community in Wales, loads of people we didn’t know came out to help. The family came together. We had a full operation finding CCTV and putting a timeline together. It was very stressful.”
Jacob said his grandad’s disappearance was “definitely unexpected”. He added: “He’d walked all the way into Wales. It was over 30 miles. He had passed that same day but we weren’t aware. We didn’t find him until 10 days later.
“The fact that he’d walked that distance was incredible. He enjoyed his walks. He was out walking a lot but he never got that far. He took a wrong turn and couldn’t find his way home.”
Jacob’s thoughts soon turned to what he could do in his grandad’s memory. He works in healthcare and thought a 26 mile marathon would be fitting given his grandad managed a 30 mile walk at the age of 85.
Through his marathon, Jacob is raising money for the British Heart Foundation. He said: “It was a couple of weeks after he died that I began thinking about doing a marathon. I’d thought about doing a marathon anyway.
“I turned 30 and wanted to keep active. If we can get as many donations as possible that would be great. It’s my first marathon. It’s nerve wracking but I am taking it seriously. I’ve got a personal trainer.”
Despite the anguish of those ten days, Jacob feels it shows what his hometown is really about. He said: “Everybody knows everybody in Neston. When something happens like that, everyone comes out to support. He was well known and well liked.” You can find out more about the fundraiser here.
