Euan Coulthard. Missing since Wednesday night
Police activity continues today to find missing student Euan Coulthard.
Euan, 19, who is studying law at St Mary’s College, was last seen leaving Loveshack nightclub in the Walkergate area of Durham City late on Wednesday 14th January.
Earlier in the evening Euan, who is from the Nottingham area, had enjoyed a meal with friends at La Spaghettata on Saddler Street before going on to Loveshack.
Since Euan was reported missing on Thursday afternoon, extensive urban and river searches have been carried out by police, fire crews and mountain and fell rescue.
The river Wear has been searched from 300 metres beyond Prebends Bridge back down to Finchale Abbey. Certain parts of the river at Chester-le-Street and Washington have also been searched.
An extensive urban land search of Durham City has been completed and dogs have searched the river banks on both sides.
Hours of CCTV footage have been studied and images of a man believed to be Euan have indicated that on leaving Loveshack at around 11:50pm, Euan made his way towards Claypath and from there through the marketplace and down Silver Street where he crossed Framwellgate Bridge. The footage then shows the man believed to be Euan heading down the steps adjacent to the Bishop Langley Pub towards the river. This is the last potential sighting of Euan.
CCTV footage showing Euan walking across Framwellgate Bridge, shortly before midnight on Wednesday night.
Superintendent Colin Williamson who is leading the search for Euan said “Extensive search activity has been carried out over the weekend and the investigation to find Euan is very much ongoing. We have been working closely with our colleagues at fire and rescue and mountain and fell rescue to find Euan”.
Police have praised the efforts of students of St Mary’s College and the University, after a strong turn out last week to assist with the search.
Superintendent Williamson added “We are also working closely with Durham University and would like to thank the students who have assisted in the search so far. My team will continue to follow up on any new information we receive and with this in mind I would urge anyone with information to contact police on 101.”
In response to Euan’s disappearance, a petition has been set up for the attention of Durham County Council and UNESCO calling for greater security measures to be put in place around Durham City Centre and Peninsula. It includes suggestions for further installation of CCTV along the river banks, an increase in lighting and possible railings along the river. In just two days, the petition has received over 11,000 signatures and this number continues to rise. For further information and to sign the petition, it can be found here.
The search continues, with police urging anybody with any information, no matter how small it is, to contact 101.