Fears over body found in Spain played down

Sep 19 2009 by Beverley Pearson, The Journal

BODIES found in Spain are not expected to include missing Durham walker Michael Egglestone.

Fears had been mounting over the fate of the retired soldier from Chester-le-Street after the bodies of a male and female were found in a cave in the Jalon Valley area of Valencia. Both had a single bullet to the head, and a gun lay at their sides.

Yesterday the Foreign Office indicated the circumstances surrounding the discovery did not match details of Mr Egglestone’s disappearance.

A spokesperson said: “The Consulate are in close contact with the Spanish authorities for more details. We continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Egglestone’s family.”

Police in Spain are also reported to have played down any chance the discovery could include Mr Egglestone, 52, who disappeared while out walking in June.

The father-of-four’s loved ones, at home in Nettlesworth, have been living in hope that Mr Egglestone could still be found alive.

The Guarda Civil have been attempting to reconstruct finger prints to identify the bodies, neither of which had been left with any ID. A local resident said: “Police are increasingly suggesting they don’t expect one of the bodies to be Mr Egglestone. The main reason they seem to think that is because the woman’s body was found as well. The cave is also quite a way from where he was last seen.”

The entrance to the cave, in Bernia, had been blocked when hunters made the discovery on Sunday.

A website has been set-up to help trace Mr Egglestone, at www.findmichaelegglestone.co.uk.