Hero who vanished after jumping into sea to save family has case REOPENED as experts launch desperate bid to crack case
A HERO who vanished after jumping into the sea to save a family has his case reopened and will be the focus of a new Channel 4 documentary.
A new series called, “The Body Detectives“, follows former detective and Locate International’s Dave Grimestead as he investigates cases of unidentified bodies across the UK.
The first episode will look at George Johnston, who disappeared off the Norfolk coast in 1984 after he jumped into the sea to save the lives of two people.
George’s family requested help from Dave and a team of experts to find the hero’s final resting place.
However, the investigation is said to have turned in “unexpected directions”.
Episode one will air tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
The preview reads: “The Body Detectives is a new series following the work of an organisation dedicated to revisiting forgotten cases, giving a name and a story to each unidentified person and giving the families the solace they seek.”
The hero from Baldock was on holiday when he saw a distressed family in the sea.
George selflessly jumped in to rescue them but tragically was never seen again.
Since then, his family have been left with unanswered questions and conspiracies as to what actually happened to him once he entered the water.
With no other alternative, they’ve turned to detective expert Dave to help find out what happened to Geroge and where he is now.
With the help of pathologists, a forensic oceanographer and an expert in facial reconstruction, the former detective hopes to deliver the answers George’s family desperately wants.
The charity, Locate International, was set up by Dave five years ago and they aim to investigate every cold case in the UK.
The former Detective Inspector with Avon and Somerset Police worked on many high-profile cases during his 34-year career, including the sexual assault and murder of Melanie Road, 17, in 1984.
After 30 years, it was finally solved after a DNA breakthrough in 2015 led to the arrest of Christopher Hampton, who was jailed for life the following year.
Dave says: “You never know what piece of information that’s collected is going to make the difference.”
With the police lacking the capacity to investigate all these cases, the charity is designed to bridge the gap.
So far, it has solved 70 cases.
The charity does not receive government funding and relies on donations, with each investigation costing thousands of pounds.
Dave says: “It’s an entirely voluntary effort.
“There’s not one person in our organisation who is paid.”
There are more than 300 volunteers from various professional backgrounds, including ex-police officers, lawyers and nurses, who receive specialist training.
It comes after a missing student’s mother revealed things are getting “worse and worse” as his family desperately search for him.
And former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has shared a desperate appeal to find her teenage niece.