Family thank community for support after body found in search for missing Michael Mawson
The devastated family of Michael Mawson have issued a heartfelt thank you to those who helped with the search operation.
Members of the Gateshead community rallied around the family of the 59-year-old after he went missing at the weekend.
But, yesterday afternoon, police combing the area surrounding Michael’s home in Chopwell, Gateshead, found the body of a man.
His twin daughters Sandy and Maria said the family were heartbroken at the discovery but said they wanted to thank everyone who had supported them over the past week.
“If my dad knew about all the support he would just be overwhelmed by it,” said 26-year-old Sandy. “We are all so grateful to everyone who has helped with the search and the police and Chronicle as well for the appeal.
“We have been blown away by the support of the community and we are just so grateful for everything.
“No matter what people did to help we just really appreciate it and we want to stress that,” added Sandy, of Hamsterley Colliery.
The grim discovery came as the hunt to find the grandfather-of-two entered its fourth day.
Michael, from Armonside Road, in Chopwell, left his home sometime between 6.30am on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon and had not made contact with his family since.
Around 70 members of the tight-knit community in Blackhall Mill came to offer their help to the family as a search operation got under way this week.
But yesterday police confirmed a body had been found in the search.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Police searching for missing Gateshead man Michael Mawson have found the body of a man.
“The body was recovered from the Lintzford Village area, a few miles from Blackhall Mill, on Thursday afternoon, February 6. Formal identification has not yet taken place and police are not in a position to confirm the identity.
“Mr Mawson’s family have been informed.
“A report will be compiled for the coroner in due course.”
Daughter Sandy said everyone who knew her father called him the “gentle giant”.
“He’s 6ft 4in and a big fella,” she said. “People around here called him Big Mick and know what a wonderful man he is.
“When we were little, Maria and I would have all our mates around for tea and he would cook everyone’s dinner. He’d let us have sleepovers and would do anything for anybody.”
Sandy and twin Maria, who has two children, Poppy, two, and seven-month old Leo, said the support of their community meant everything.
Sandy said: “All we want to do is thank everyone for the support – people who don’t even live around the area helped and everyone was sharing the appeal on social media.”
His daughters said Michael battled with mental health problems after being made redundant from his job as a road sweeper for Gateshead Council three years ago.
“My dad worked for the council for 20 years before he got made redundant,” said Sandy. “He was very worried about trying to find a job.”
Police carried out house to house inquiries in the village and searches were carried out on paths on the south west tip of Chopwell Woods, an area where Michael frequently went walking.
Specialists from the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and Durham Search and Rescue also assisted in the investigation and the search stretched to areas of Derwent Walk in Durham.
Chief Inspector Stephen Ammari praised local people for their help. “We have been very impressed by the support from the community in rallying around to help us search for Mr Mawson.
“His family and local volunteers have been keen to do all they can to help us cover this open area and we are grateful for their support,” he said.
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