The sister of a Workington man who has been missing since December 12 has thanked everyone involved in the search and revealed private divers will resume the search for him on Boxing Day.
Nicholas Degraff was last seen on December 12 in Great Clifton.
He was due to arrive in Workington, but did not arrive and his dog Leia was found later that day by the River Derwent.
Since the alarm was raised, emergency services and the community have been out looking for the 23-year-old.
Earlier this week, an appeal was launched to help fund the private dive team to help search for Nicholas in the River Derwent. It has so far raised £16,732.
His sister Charlotte posted on Facebook this morning: “Me, mam and dad want to give a massive heartfelt thank you to absolutely every person that is reading this.
“From the messages, the shares, ground searchers, the ones who helped get Leia back to us safely, the police, West Cumbria missing person team, Coastguards, mountain rescue, the divers, those with drones, all our best friends, strangers that have become friends, those that brought us food, helped out with the shop, helped with Lily and every single individual that contributed towards the Just Giving page and the masses of kind gestures that we have received (I have probably missed so many here).
“This town and our community is filled with thousands of kind people. My brother is still missing and I will not rest until he is found.
“The private divers will be back out searching on the December 26.”
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.
Fund to help bring Nicholas home raises more than £16,000. Read more here.
