A Stoke-on-Trent man who vanished more than six years ago while walking alone in Snowdonia has been officially declared dead.

Psychiatrist Shayne Colaco’s sudden disappearance in the summer of 2012 sparked a massive search operation at the time.

An RAF rescue helicopter, a team on foot and dogs were drafted in to scour the Ogwen Valley in North Wales.

The 33-year-old, of Ambassador Road, Hanley, was reported missing to Staffordshire Police and the search for him was subject to ‘cold case’ reviews.

However, no body has ever been found and now he has this week been pronounced deceased.

Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said it was ‘puzzling’ that nothing had been recovered since August 2012.

He told the inquest he believed Dr Colaco died on August 4, 2012 and recorded an open conclusion.

Shayne Colaco was an experienced hill walker

Mr Pritchard Jones added: “There’s no body here. Therefore I can’t record a cause of death.

“I hate inquests where we can’t produce an answer. Unfortunately the evidence isn’t here in this case.”

Caernarfon Coroner’s Court heard Dr Colaco – who had been about to start a new job when he disappeared – was an experienced hill walker.

He set off towards 3,209ft Pen yr Ole Wen after leaving his Fiat Seicento at near Ogwen Cottage, taking a route he had planned in advance.

Dr Calaco was reported missing when he failed to return home on August 6, 2012.

Alistair Read, of Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team, told the inquest: “The area is very popular with members of the public. Pen yr Ole Wen has a very steep and loose path. That doesn’t stop people going.”

He had set off towards Pen yr Ole Wen before going missing

Mr Read said searching a couple of locations would be a ‘significant challenge’.

Although one of the smaller peaks, Tryfan is one of the most recognisable mountains in North Wales with its summit topped by two stone pillars called Adam and Eve. Many climbers observe a risky 200-year-old tradition of jumping between the two to gain the ‘freedom of Tryfan’.

The leap is made more dangerous by its east face plunging hundreds of feet beneath them.

Dr Colaco’s disappearance came just weeks after a Birmingham man was found dead below a cliff face on the Glyder Fawr mountain in the Ogwen Valley.

Hundreds of posters featuring his picture were printed but to no avail.

Police confirmed their active search of the area was brought to an end a month after he disappeared.

However, volunteers who regularly went walking in the area continued to keep an eye out for any clues.

Speaking at the time, Detective Inspector Steve Morrey, from Staffordshire Police, said: “Hundreds of leaflets with Shayne’s picture and details have been distributed across the area to raise people’s awareness of him going missing.

“We have also ensured that local activity centres have been made aware of his disappearance.

“There have been numerous and extensive inquiries with family, friends and work colleagues to try and piece together where Shayne may have gone on the weekend of Saturday, August 4.

“Members of the public have been contacting police with possible sightings during the week of his disappearance, yet none of these have been Shayne.

“We believe that he has been walking in a popular area and are hoping that someone has seen or spoken to him.

“We are still unclear of his exact movements and intentions.

“It does not matter that time has passed, we want to have the best opportunity to find Shayne.”

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