Friends of the family of missing Jacob Crompton from Retford have described the situation as "beyond heartbreaking" as the search for him continues more than a month on from when he was last seen. Jacob's father has been personally taking to a kayak with a friend on most weekends to traverse the River Idle, close to where Jacob was last seen.
Posters featuring pictures of Jacob have been plastered across Retford, including in shops, bus stops and the town's leisure centre. Jacob's parents, Mark and Nicola, recently issued a statement saying that they were "shattered and bewildered" by their son's disappearance.
Sarah Dowde, 52, has known Jacob's family for around 15 years from attending St Joseph's Church in Retford. Sarah said: "Mark has been up and down the Idle in a kayak with a friend, this will be his third or fourth weekend.
Should there be a public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks? Let us know here
"We actually bumped into them doing it and to see parents looking for their children like that is heartbreaking. We've asked everyone for doorbell camera footage, CCTV footage, and there's just nothing. He's seen going into the park and that's it."
Nottinghamshire Police says Jacob was last seen at around midnight on Saturday (March 23) into the early hours of Sunday. The 19-year-old is around 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build, with short, dark, mousy hair.
The force previously said that it was thought Jacob had walked towards King's Park in Retford at around 12.22am on March 24, with a member of the public seen on CCTV walking the same route. Footage around where Jacob was last seen showed a grey Vauxhall Corsa and a person walking towards the park at around 2am, with the vehicle entering an adjacent car park at the front of Sports Direct at 2.03am.
Those who have seen Jacob, or who have any information on where he is, are being asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101. People should quote incident number 299 of March 24.
Around 100 people gathered at St Joseph's Church on Wednesday (April 24) to show their support for Jacob's family and join in a silent prayer and moment of reflection. Specialist diving company Beneath The Surface have also carried out repeated searches in Retford.
Sarah added: "I can't even find the words to say how heartbreaking it is, they don't exist. It's beyond heartbreaking. They are a very close family. They always go on holidays together even as the children have got older. They're lovely."
