A solitary winter hike in the Snowdonia mountains ended in tragedy for a father from Lancashire but what rescuers found next would finally unravel the mystery of a missing psychiatrist who vanished more than a decade earlier.
David Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, vanished on January 9, 2023, after setting out alone into the Carneddau range in Snowdonia National Park.
The experienced walker had sent a text to his wife from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, one of the highest peaks in Wales. But he never returned.
Despite extensive searches amid treacherous winter conditions, it wasn’t until May 10 – four months later – that a coastguard helicopter crew, carrying out a training mission in the Ogwen Valley, spotted his body in a steep gully on Pen yr Ole Wen.
But the grim discovery would lead to an even more astonishing revelation.
In the same gully, hidden under thick undergrowth and debris, were the remains of another man.
It was that of Dr Shayne Colaco, a 33-year-old psychiatrist from Stoke-on-Trent, who had vanished in 2012 while hiking the same peak.
Speaking after the discovery, Sergeant Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit, who helped recover both men, described the case as one of the most extraordinary he has seen in his career.
David Brookfield, 65, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, (pictured) never made it home to his family after his mountain trek expedition to celebrate his retirement
Dr Shayne Colaco, a 33-year-old psychiatrist from Stoke-on-Trent, vanished in 2012 while hiking the same peak
In the same gully (above), hidden under thick undergrowth and debris, were the remains of another man
‘This story and these circumstances really are quite exceptional. My thoughts and feelings are very much with both David and Shayne’s families.’
He explained how the breakthrough came during the investigation into David Brookfield’s death, when a member of the mountain rescue team spotted a jacket around five metres further down the gully.
‘While we were carrying out the investigation into David’s death, a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about five metres further down the gully.
‘The jacket didn’t seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key.
‘Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier.’
The jacket sparked immediate interest as Dr Colaco’s disappeared in the exact same location.
‘I was quite amazed to find that the jacket was very similar to the one Shayne Colaco was wearing on the day he went missing.
‘Following further investigations, we managed to confirm the key in the pocket was the key to Shayne’s car, a Fiat Seicento.
‘Suddenly, we realised we may have a clue as to where he may have been all this time.’
Speaking after the discovery, Sergeant Paul Terry (pictured) of the North Wales Police drone unit, who helped recover both men, described the case as one of the most extraordinary he has seen in his career
He explained how the breakthrough came during the investigation into David Brookfield’s death, when a member of the mountain rescue team spotted a jacket around five metres further down the gully
The grandfather was reported missing after his family heard no more from him during his hiking trip to Snowdonia, North Wales – but his body not found for several months
That lead prompted a renewed search, this time focused on the gully on Pen yr Ole Wen, using drone technology and specialist recovery techniques.
‘As the drone pilot was standing in the spot we had recovered David, something quite incredible happened.
‘He noticed a piece of fabric under some brush and the detritus that had washed down the gully – and, quite incredibly, realised that he has also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco.’
The discovery brought an emotional conclusion to a case that had baffled police, devastated Shayne Colaco’s family, and left many questions unanswered for 12 long years.
Dr Colaco had left his car near Ogwen Cottage in 2012, planning a hike up 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen, just before starting a new medical role. He was never seen again.
It is now believed that both men fell into the same hidden gully in terrain described as dangerous and deceptive, particularly in poor weather.
‘What’s really so amazing about this story is that so many of the people involved in searching for David had also been involved in the searches 12 years before for Shayne.
‘One of the winchmen who located David from the helicopter was also part of the RAF squadron looking for Shayne.’
As summer brings thousands of walkers to Snowdonia, police and mountain rescue teams are now urging caution — reminding visitors that even experienced hikers can come to harm in remote and unforgiving areas.
‘In both these cases, David and Shayne ended up in ground which really is very dangerous, which might have seemed inviting from the summit, but as it got steeper and more broken, it became harder.’
