Gazette News
Search for missing Ulverston man continues
3:21pm Tuesday 21st February 2012
TRAINED dog handlers have travelled up from the Midlands to help in the search mission to find an Ulverston man.
Police are renewing their appeal for help from the public to trace Mark Westall who went missing from his home in Ulverston almost one month ago.
Mr Westall, 44, of North Lonsdale Road, was last seen at 9.30pm on Monday (January 23), on North Lonsdale Road.
Since then, officers have launched large scale searches and this weekend, a West Midlands police dog team (one handler and one dog) specially trained in following the scent of human skin follicles travelled to Cumbria to assist the Mountain Rescue Team. Together they retraced the area around Mark’s home on North Lonsdale Rd and searched the disused railway line which runs from Ulverston canal towards Plumpton but, unfortunately, Mark still hasn’t been found.
Police officers and Mark’s family remain dedicated to raising awareness of his disappearance within the local community but, as time goes on, his appearance may have changed so they are urging local people to be vigilant and report any potential sightings of him to police.
PC Steve Johnston said: “Alongside Mark’s family, we have been distributing posters within the community to raise awareness of Mark’s disappearance but with the amount of time that has passed, we are aware that his appearance may have changed.
“We know that Mark left home without his medication and, if he hasn’t managed to pick up medication from elsewhere, it is likely that he will have experienced a common side effect and lost quite a lot of weight. It is also possible that he has grown a beard by now.
“Despite searching for almost a month and receiving various calls with information from members of the public, we have not been able to confirm a positive sighting of Mark so we don’t know what his appearance is now like. One distinctive thing about Mark that will not change is his colourful tattoo on his left arm of a yellow and black spaceship.
“Our searches to date have involved more than six different agencies including Mountain Rescue Teams, Inshore Rescue, Specialist dog handlers and the underwater dive team with more than 60 specialist personnel involved. Our search for Mark will not be over until we can reunite him with his family and we are re-appealing to the community to be vigilant, keep Mark in mind and if you believe you’ve seen him anywhere, please contact us on 101 immediately.
“We remain in close contact with Mark’s family and are supporting them as best we can. Mark, if you are reading or listening to this, please contact your family to let them know you are safe. You are not in any trouble – your family are extremely worried about you and want to know that you are safe.”
Mark is described as white, 5' 6'' tall, and when he was last seen he was of a stocky build with dark brown, collar length wavy hair. He was last seen wearing an orange jacket and blue trousers, with a light coloured sweatshirt worn under his jacket.
If you think you have seen Mark or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact Ulverston police on 101 immediately.