Land, Sea Search for Missing Cyclist

A 49-year-old cyclist has been missing since New Year’s Day, prompting authorities to search both land and sea for him. A search of the coast continued on Thursday for father-of-three Samuel Campbell, who had gone for a ride on his cycle on Sunday afternoon but never returned.

Rescue teams and police have been searching a wide area around Campbell’s home, but they moved to covering the coast when a member of the public discovered his bike on the shore outside the village of Genarm on Tuesday night. As many as 60 searchers from several voluntary and statutory agencies scoured a 10-mile radius of land and sea on the coastline on Wednesday. The search was called off by lifeguards and the Coastguard at 3pm but was due to resume at 11am yesterday morning.

Laverne, Campbell’s wife, and his children (who are grown) were described as too upset to talk about his disappearance. However, his wife said in an interview earlier that he is committed to his work, family and cycling. He does everything 100%. He went out on Sunday to get started on his training early, she added.

The businessman’s friends even took to driving in the wind and rain to join the search and rescue efforts on Wednesday. One said that they heard Campbell’s cycle was found, and four of his friends decided to help if they could.

HM Coastguard sector manager Gordon Munro explained on Wednesday that they were starting a search on behalf of the police at 11am. They called in two lifeboats from Red Bay and Larne for the search, while teams from Larne, Portmuck and Ballycastle have also been summoned. They have searched from Ballygalley to Garron Point, which is five miles north and south. Campbell’s friends were asked to be cautious around the coastline, as conditions are terrible with extremely slippery rocks. They have been asked not to put themselves in danger, while the family is distraught.

Rescue workers were fighting relentless gale force winds and rain along the Antrim coast, where Campbell’s cycle was found. However, there haven’t been any other clues about this whereabouts, and the severe weather conditions haven’t been helping the operations. The coastal area is rough with large jagged rocks that rise from the inland side.

Community Rescue Service’s Sean McCarry says that it sent 32 volunteers to participate in the coastal search. They are in the middle of three rescue efforts right now, he added, with the other two involving missing men in Strabane and Limavady. Extensive searches have been conducted along the River Mourne and River Foyle after David Colhoun disappeared in May. Limavady man James Frew went missing last month in Roe Valley Country Park.