Missing student on CCTV as she ran towards sea
POLICE have found CCTV showing a missing student running toward the sea in the early hours of Boxing Day.
As the search for Sophie Smith entered its third day yesterday, the inspector leading the investigation said his working theory was that the 21- year- old had run into the water.
Will Drummond, of norfolk Constabulary, said Sophie had been withdrawn over the festive period and was suffering from severe anxiety and depression.
her mother lynn Shaw, 56, and stepfather Kevin Shaw, 60, heard the door slam at 3am on Boxing Day and started a frantic search before calling the police.
Miss Smith, a biomedical student at the University of East Anglia who had come home to gorleston-onSea for the holidays, did not have her mobile phone on her when she ran out of the house. She was dressed only in shorts and a vest.
A police operation involving helicopters, boats and land searches found nothing yesterday. locals helped by combing through woodland and fields.
Mr Drummond said: ‘Sophie suffers from severe anxiety and depression which she was being treated for. There was a level of what i would call preparation prior to running off. A combination of the preparation, her mental state, and comments made, may suggest there’s a likelihood that unfortunately she may have gone into the sea.’
Officers have analysed Sophie’s phone and social media accounts and asked about discussions with family and friends. Of her mental state, Mr Drummond said: ‘We believe she’s been talking about it with family before, talking about anxiety and depression and we think this has maybe been a trigger.’
last night Sophie’s father insisted the family had not given up.
‘We are still praying and hoping that Sophie will walk through her mum’s door and just come home so we can put our arms around her and tell her how much we love her,’ said nhS worker Martin Knowles.
Mr Knowles was hugged by his younger daughter Sarah, 19, Sophie’s half- sister, as he added: ‘What has happened is heartbreaking for us all.’ Sophie’s mother and stepfather run an antiques shop in gorleston- on- Sea, which neighbours great yarmouth.