|
'Missing' man mystifies UK
05/12/2007 08:53 - (SA)
Pieter Malan, Beeld
London - A British prison warden who went rowing on a windless day along the east coast of England five years ago, turned up at a police station in London saying he believed he is a missing person.
John Darwin, 57, told the police his name, address and date of birth, but said he had no idea where he had been since he disappeared in March 2000 after he had gone rowing in Seaton Carew on the north-eastern coast of England.
N
Rescue workers had no explanation for Darwin's disappearance on a windless day on a sea as flat as a farm dam. His broken red canoe was found six weeks later, but his body was never found despite an extensive search by helicopter, nine boats and a British navy ship.
The British media speculated on Tuesday that Darwin's tale was not all it seemed to be - especially after it was revealed that his wife, Anne, had moved to Panama a few weeks ago.
Her neighbours in Seaton Carew, where she had been living since her husband's disappearance, said she sold her house almost overnight and left the country - without even selling her furniture.
Darwin has since contacted his two adult sons.
According to the police Darwin could recall nothing about the past five years. A doctor who examined him could find no indications of illness.
"There are quite a number of unanswered questions," said a police spokesperson.
According to British law a person must be missing for seven years before life insurance may pay out.
|
News
