The mysterious case of a doctor who disappeared without a trace has finally been solved
21:40, 17 Jun 2025Updated 21:43, 17 Jun 2025
(Image: North Wales Police)
The baffling case of a doctor who disappeared without a trace after setting out for a walk in Eryri (formerly Snowdonia) has finally been solved. Psychiatrist Shayne Eves Colaco, aged 33, was about to start a new job when he went missing while walking alone in the summer of 2012.
The mystery would only be resolved by a series of coincidences following another tragedy 12 years later. On January 9, 2024, David Brookfield, 65, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, also went missing while walking alone in the Carneddau mountains in Snowdonia.
During a routine exercise, a coastguard helicopter crew spotted a blue jacket in the Ogwen Valley, which led to mountain rescue volunteers making a discovery that finally shed light on what had happened to Shayne.
In 2012, Shayne had travelled from Stoke-on-Trent and left his vehicle near Ogwen Cottage before walking towards the towering Pen yr Ole Wen, which stands 3,209ft tall, reports North Wales Live.
Despite leaving details of the route he intended to follow, he never returned to his car and was never seen again. Staffordshire Police conducted periodic “cold case” reviews but it appeared he had simply vanished into thin air.
Six years after his disappearance he was declared dead. A substantial search operation ensued but his body was never found.
More than 12 years later, in January 2024, David also became a missing person while alone in the Carneddau mountains.
David Brookfield, 65, was found four months after disappearing(Image: North Wales Police)
David sent his wife a WhatsApp message after reaching the peak of Carnedd Llewelyn; thereafter, no word was heard from him. In response, a huge search was carried out, involving mountain rescue crews, a coastguard helicopter, aerial drones, and dog units.
For some time, hopes of finding him waned as the search led to no discovery.
Four months later, on May 10, 2024, a coastguard helicopter crew spotted a blue jacket in the Ogwen Valley. The discovery was a stroke of luck – they’d been carrying out a routine training exercise.
During his descent from the top of Pen yr Ole Wen, it is believed David entered the broad mouth of a gully where he fell and became seriously injured. When his body and possessions were being recovered, mountain rescue volunteers made a discovery that would finally shed light on what had happened to Shayne.
Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit recounted the sequence of events. “While we were carrying out the investigation process into David’s death, a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about five metres further down the gully,” he said.
“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.”
Sgt Terry began investigating what Shayne had been wearing and what car he had been driving at the time he went missing.
He added: “I was quite amazed to find that the jacket was very similar to the one Shayne was wearing 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.”
Shayne Colaco’s jacket was discovered on Pen yr Ole Wen during the recovery of Mr Brookfield’s body(Image: North Wales Police)
After Shayne’s belongings were found, a specialist mountain rescue drone operator conducted additional searches on Pen yr Ole Wen to locate his body.
Sgt Terry continued: “As the drone pilot stood in the spot where 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 had also discovered the remains of Shayne Colaco.
“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 RAF 22 Squadron looking for Shayne 12 years earlier.
“This brings so many people together around two really sad stories, but it shows the amazing willingness and determination of volunteers and the emergency services to find both these men.”
In a tragic coincidence, two men were found deceased in nearly the same location in Eryri, prompting North Wales Police to share the incidents to underscore the risks of mountain walking.
Sgt Paul Terry of the North Wales Police drone unit, is also a mountain rescue volunteer(Image: North Wales Police)
Sgt Terry highlighted that both David and Shane were seasoned walkers who had come prepared. “It’s always possible that something will go wrong,” he remarked.
“Eryri is an incredible place, it’s beautiful, and on a good day, the mountains look achievable and accessible. But it’s important to understand the scale of these hills and the impact of weather – and how quickly it can change.
“In both these cases, David and Shane 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.”
Sgt Terry, who volunteers for a local mountain rescue team in his free time, understands the dangers firsthand. “I volunteer because it’s incredible, it’s an amazing adventure and it brings value to other people’s lives,” he expressed.
“Where somebody has passed away, helping to bring them off the mountains and back to their families and loved ones is a massive privilege. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox”.
“We want you to come and enjoy these beautiful mountains in Eryri, it is amazing but come and be safe and enjoy it. I have a very simple safety message – be prepared.”