Canoeist sons tell of anger and hurt
Dec 7 2007 by Paul Watson, The Journal
THE sons of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin have spoken of their “anger and confusion”.
In a statement released through Cleveland Police, Anthony and Mark Darwin said they feared they were the victims of a large scam and said they wanted no further contact with their parents.
They spoke out as police began to question former prison officer John Darwin, who came back from the dead at the weekend five years after he was feared missing at sea in his canoe.
His wife Anne is facing possible extradition from Panama after admitting that her husband had been with her in the central American country last year – a fact proved when a photograph of the couple together was found on the internet.
Mrs Darwin is facing questions about why she claimed on her husband’s life insurance.
Yesterday Anthony Darwin, 29, from Basingstoke, and his brother Mark, 31, from London, issued a joint statement condemning their parents.
They said: “Having seen the recent media speculation surrounding our parents ever since our dad was arrested, we are very much in an angry and confused state of mind.
“In the short space of time following our dad’s appearance in London on Saturday, we have gone through a rollercoaster of emotion.
“From the height of elation at finding him to be alive to the depths of despair at the recent stories of fraud and these latest pictures. And the shock of being thrust into the media spotlight.
“If the papers’ allegations of a confession from our mam are true, then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam.
“How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?
“We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad’s arrest and at this present time we want no further contact with them.
“Cleveland Police have asked for anyone with knowledge of our dad’s whereabouts over the last five years to come forward and we support this wholeheartedly.
“We, too, want to know where he has been and what he has been doing.
“We have been in constant contact with the police and will be helping them with their inquiries in any way we can.”
It emerged later that both sons had recently left their jobs.
Mrs Darwin’s sister Christine, who lives on Tyneside, was unavailable for comment.
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Emergency services count cost of search for Darwin
The cost of the 200 square-mile sea search for John Darwin, which lasted several days, was estimated to be at least £70,000.
Police aircraft, an RAF helicopter, the Coastguard and RNLI were involved in the search of the Tees Estuary for the prison officer on March 21, 2002.
Six RNLI lifeboats spent 85 hours at sea, from the early hours of March 22, with several more launches after reported sightings in the following days.
Volunteer RNLI crews from Hartlepool, Redcar, Teesmouth and Staithes and Runswick were called in. Two crews from Hartlepool alone spent 15 hours at sea on March 22.
The charity’s costs were estimated to be around £30,000.
An RAF Sea King helicopter, which costs £15,250 per hour to send out, also joined the operation, though it was not clear for how long.
A police plane and helicopter were also called out.
Cleveland Police Authority said the search cost the force £20,000, taking into account the resources in the air and mounted officers searching the dunes around Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool.
Up to 40 Coastguard personnel were also involved and Royal Navy training ship HMS Explorer was called up to join the hunt.
