Police say they have not stopped the search for a missing Workington man as a fund to pay for private divers reaches more than £14,300.
A Gofundme page was set up on behalf of Nicholas Degraff’s family in a bid to continue looking for the 23-year-old man, who was last seen in Great Clifton on Sunday, December 12.
The cash will help pay for private divers to continue searching the River Derwent after his family say they were told that specialist police divers will not be returning and Cumbria Constabulary was ‘not able to offer any further extensive searches at this time’.
The page was set up by Mackenzie Leder on behalf of the family and in less than 24 hours has raided £14,335 from 1,000 people.
A spokesman for Cumbria police said: “We continue to review the search areas and we have not stood down the search effort. As and when we identify further areas for search then we will continue to task the underwater assets.”
Chief Inspector Lee Skelton, of Cumbria police, said “There have been extensive searches in the effort to find Nicholas Degraff, who has been missing since December 12.
“The searches over the last 11 days include use of licensed search officers, specialist police dogs, North West underwater search team, local mountain rescue teams, HM Coastguard and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
“This has included focused searches of the River Derwent, review of CCTV as well as wider land-based searches of the relevant area.
“These have incorporated members of the public, friends and family of Nicholas who have assisted us cover a large area where it is believed he may have been.
“The search permits are constantly under review by a specialist police search advisor based on intelligence we receive and I would continue to encourage anyone with any information to contact us.”
Nicholas is described as 5ft 10in, of slim build and with short, brown hair.
He has tattoos on his face and neck with spacer ear piercings.
He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black jogging bottoms, work boots and carrying an Iceland carrier bag.
Nicholas also had in his possession a 3M SPEED GLAS black welding mask – likely carried in a bag – which would be quite distinctive if found, police said.
Anyone with any other information is urged to report it at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit or call 101.
