The mother of a young man described as having a ‘beautiful soul’ has spoken of her family's devastation as they face Christmas without him, six weeks after he vanished in Hull.
Extensive Search Fails to Find Sam
Sam Childs, who is 24 and autistic, was last seen alive on Thursday, 6 November near Plimsoll Way at Victoria Dock. Following a major missing person investigation, Humberside Police retrieved CCTV footage from approximately 1km away which appears to show a figure entering the water at around 12.19pm that day, just 50 metres from where he was last sighted.
Chief Inspector Owen Stafford, leading the search, stated that while it is difficult to confirm the identity definitively due to the camera's distance, thorough enquiries lead them to believe it is Sam. Since his disappearance, a large-scale operation involving the force's Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Patrol officers, specialist search officers, and the Underwater Search Unit has been underway.
The search has also involved partner agencies, the UK Civil Air Support charity scanning the Hull Estuary by air, and divers and drones. Despite these relentless efforts, Sam has not been found.
A Family Living in Limbo
Sam's mother, Helen Childs, told the BBC that the uncertainty is torture. "I know my boy's gone, and it's his remains we'll find, which is hard, but we're just living in limbo," she said. "I just want the day to come where we can lay him to rest."
She described viewing the CCTV footage as "utterly heartbreaking". The family, supported by friends, have themselves conducted more than a dozen searches and left over 30 care packages around the city in their quest for answers.
A memorial of photos and flowers remains at Victoria Dock, and a dedicated Facebook page, ‘Finding Sam’, has been set up. The family has appealed to those who work on or near the Humber estuary to report any anomalies to the coastguard or police.
An Unbearable Christmas Without Him
The approaching festive season has magnified the family's grief. Helen Childs revealed they plan to eat their Christmas dinner in the living room this year, unable to bear the sight of his empty place at the table.
"Christmas was the only day I'd get all three of my kids around the table at the same time," she said. "I'd do a massive Christmas dinner and breakfast. I just don't know how we'll do it this year."
The family has expressed profound gratitude for the public support they have received during searches, including hugs from strangers. Helen remembered her son simply as "such a beautiful soul".
Humberside Police have confirmed that their enquiries remain ongoing to fully understand Sam's movements and that underwater search teams continue their work based on information from the public. Legally, Sam remains a missing person. Under the Presumption of Death Act 2013, a person may be presumed dead after seven years, though a court can grant a declaration earlier if evidence suggests death.
