Found Deceased Holland - Richard Cole, 30, Amsterdam, 25 January 2016

[sherlockh]

I have walked many places right next to water with no railing.Amsterdam is famous for public urination and has public open urinals everywhere to deter going to the canals or urinating in the street.
Walking in not easy in Amsterdam you have 2 feet of sidewalk wide and another path for bikes.You really have to keep alert not to get run over by bikes,scooters or cars.Not alot of room for walking on sidewalks.

I don't know every single canal in Amsterdam but Richard was last seen turning into the "Herengracht". Parked cars by the waterside, walking path on the other side of the road. The trees by the water might also attract a male to relieve himself, and so he can stumble in the water. Either way, if there was a danger for anyone you would also have female victims and not just drunk males IMO.

google translate

When police he watched images from the cameras on the square. "Richard was alone. He crossed the street diagonally," says Lee. "He stumbled a little, but not so bad that he could not walk. He then disappeared from view. The last point is the corner of the Thorbeckeplein."

https://www.rtvnh.nl/nieuws/178933/...aar-vermiste-brit-hij-is-een-ervaren-reiziger

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Do we know where his hotel was?

 

[otto]

Do we know where his hotel was?

Airbnb in West Amsterdam

 

[dotr]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35460479
Appeal to find last person with missing Briton Richard Cole

The family of a British man missing in Amsterdam are appealing for the last person he was with to call police.

His family said he was in Coco's Outback bar with a Scottish or Irish man who may know where he was heading.

Mr Cole's mother, Debbie Thornhill, said: "The man has probably returned home now, but he may have information of where Richard was going next as his girlfriend - who spoke to him on the phone - said he was keen to carry on clubbing.

"We just want this person to contact police. We need some answers and to know where he went from that spot."

rbbm.

 

[cuffem]

I wanted to mention a safety hazard walking the streets of Amsterdam at night and that is the many basement stairwells along the sidewalks.They are wide open with no railing or barrier and at night with no lights I can see intoxicated people falling into them.Now I am sure if this happened he would have been found by now,I see this as a problem for tourists.I don't see well at night and rely on my husband to walk me in these areas.I am not saying this happened to Richard.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I wanted to mention a safety hazard walking the streets of Amsterdam at night and that is the many basement stairwells along the sidewalks.They are wide open with no railing or barrier and at night with no lights I can see intoxicated people falling into them.Now I am sure if this happened he would have been found by now,I see this as a problem for tourists.I don't see well at night and rely on my husband to walk me in these areas.I am not saying this happened to Richard.

Yes - another hazard to add to the canals, trams and bikes! Did we find out where he was staying? I think someone said Airbnb but that's a website not an actual place, am wondering how far he was from his accom. It's true to say Dam is pretty easy to get lost in, once you lose your points of reference it all starts looking samey

 

[dotr]

Wondering if Richard might have headed somewhere to play poker?

The biggest possible lead in the investigation has been uncovered by Richard's older brother, Lee Thornhill, who flew out to Holland to help officers with the search on Saturday.

Lee discovered his brother had been seen speaking to a man with a thick Scottish or Irish accent in Coco's Bar in Thorbecke Square.

Now the family are hoping this person will come forward and give the police information about where Richard was planning to go when he left.

Amsterdam police were still searching canals with sniffer dogs around Thorbecke Square yesterday – a video of which can be seen on the force's Facebook page.

Nabil Ouaissa, spokesman for Amsterdam police, said: "We are searching all the areas where we have information about Mr Cole.

"We are looking at cameras and CCTV but we haven't found anything. We are doing everything we can do to find him."

Richard's mum Debbie said the experience was "like losing something that's the most precious thing in the world and not being able to find it.

Read more: http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/...tory-28647083-detail/story.html#ixzz3ywbRPyuf
Follow us: @GlosCitizen on Twitter | GlosCitizen on Facebook

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Wondering if Richard might have headed somewhere to play poker?



Read more: http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/...tory-28647083-detail/story.html#ixzz3ywbRPyuf
Follow us: @GlosCitizen on Twitter | GlosCitizen on Facebook

Poor woman. You'd literally be losing a bit more hope with every hour that passed.

 

[cuffem]

I understand Richard's parents frustrations with the polite but to be honest they have young intoxicated males in some kind of trouble almost daily.I will tell you a story that happened to us,although it was in Brussels it shows you what happens on vacations in a strange city.It was only our second trip to Belgium and on the last day before flying home we went to have a drink (me cappuccino,husband bier)at the stock exchange square.There was a young american guy with all his luggage sitting next to us.My husband struck up a conversation because he had on a UNC cap.He just got off the flight and had no sleep and was drinking Duvels which is 13% alcohol.My husband mentioned to him to be careful of the bier but this guy had like 3,even the waiter said something to him.Well of course he had no idea were anything was or how to catch the train.He had no idea we were 2 blocks from the Grand Place so we took him to see it.He could hardly walk and needed to urinate and finding public bathrooms(WC) is not easy.My husband said for him to come with us to our hotel and use the restroom and then take a cab to his hostel.The guy was about to pass out and I wanted to kill my husband because now we are responsible for him and this was not how I wanted to spend my last night.The guy kept telling us how much money he had on him and I said to him not to do that because we could rob him if we were criminals.I forgot to mention he kept his laptop bag in a chair across from him next to a busy sidewalk,bad idea.My husband ended up getting him a cab from the hotel because some drivers will rip you off,and we gave the driver the address.
Tourist are not used to the alcohol content.I was at the train station in Brugge once trying to help an american woman.She had just arrived and was drunk in the stations cafe and had no idea what to do to get to her hotel.We never talk to tourists anymore because we end up being a guide and it is endless.People need to do their research before visiting a strange place,have maps on hand and get familiar with the transit system and be responsible when drinking so you are not taken advantage of.

 

[sherlockh]

Body found in the canal Herengracht at the location where Richard went missing. Not identified yet.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Body found in the canal Herengracht at the location where Richard went missing. Not identified yet.

Oh no

 

[sherlockh]

Only in Dutch news so far.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/25125267/__Lichaam_in_Herengracht__.html

 

[pappa rob]

Oh crud.

 

[cuffem]

So sorry for his family and friends,I figured he was in a canal but I wonder why it took this long to find him right at the spot he went missing.When I run into these kids I will make sure to call polite or see they are tended to with a cab.
He went in the opposite direction.I said this canal was not well lit and past the bridge has no barriers.I am suprised he went in this direction and not towards the well lit areas with businesses and people.Maybe he went this way because it was dark and he needed to urinate.

 

[cuffem]

http://www.nltimes.nl/2016/02/01/police-search-water-for-missing-british-tourist-richard-cole/
Here is an article from today before the body was found and shows a pic of them searching with a dog.
RIP Richard

 

[dotr]

http://www.nltimes.nl/2016/02/01/police-search-water-for-missing-british-tourist-richard-cole/
Here is an article from today before the body was found and shows a pic of them searching with a dog.
RIP Richard

 

[dotr]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/richard-cole-missing-family-british-7274402
Richard Cole.


:rose:

 

[gregjrichards]

Very sorry to read a body has been found Richard's family must be going through hell waiting for an identity confirmation. Any updates are much appreciated.

Is there any history of people being pushed intentionally into canals in Amsterdam? I just wondered out of interest I'm not saying this is a possibility in this instance.

 

[otto]

Yes - another hazard to add to the canals, trams and bikes! Did we find out where he was staying? I think someone said Airbnb but that's a website not an actual place, am wondering how far he was from his accom. It's true to say Dam is pretty easy to get lost in, once you lose your points of reference it all starts looking samey

In the link posted by Sherlock on the last page, the article only states that he was staying at an Airbnb in Amsterdam-West.

 

[Elainera]

View attachment 88382

I don't understand how someone can drown in these waters. The fall is not very deep, the water is pretty calm.