The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Airman’s girlfriend shares poignant image
Emotional: First picture of baby bump posted on Facebook page
The heartbroken pregnant girlfriend of missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague has a poignant first image of her baby bump.
April Oliver shared the black and white photograph on her Facebook account on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old can be seen sitting on the end of a bed, cradling her large baby bump with her right hand.
Her left hand is holding on to a pair of Timberland-style baby booties similar to the adult ones Corrie was wearing when he disappeared more than seven months ago.
The fitness instructor had been dating Corrie for around five months before he went missing on September 24 following a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Along with the candid photograph, April shared an emotional message to the baby which is believed to be due late spring, early summer time.
She said: “I struggle with finding the right words because sometimes when you have to be strong and put on a brave face you forget about the precious moments that pass by. Yesterday was an emotional but exciting day, and sometimes it only takes one person to help you see what you have.
“I miss and love Corrie with every part of my body and little things set off different emotions.
“I can’t help but be truly unconditionally in love with my baby and you’re not here yet.
“Corrie will be a part of both of us forever and no one can take that away.”
Search teams are in their 10th week searching a landfill site in Milton, Cambridgeshire, where Corrie’s body is believed to be found.
Police believe the 23-year-old ended up in the back of a Biffa bin lorry following the night out in Bury St Edmunds as his mobile signal last pinged near the landfill site.
The new image was shared just hours after Corrie’s father, Martin McKeague posted a Facebook update on the search after visiting the landfill site for the 11th time on Thursday.
Martin, from Cupar, said: “Today marked my 11th visit to the landfill site where the search for my son has continued over the last 10 weeks.
“And maybe the hardest thing that Trisha and I are now trying to come to terms with, as we near the completion of the search effort within the extended parameters that have been set, is that despite the dedication and efforts of the Norfolk and Suffolk police forces there is a growing chance we may never actually find Corrie here.”
Corrie will be a part of both of us forever and no one can take that away