Community shocked at death of father of missing Norfolk boy Daniel Enwistle

Police carry out their search on the River Yare, Great Yarmouth, Thursday May 8, 2003, for missing seven-year-old Daniel Entwistle. Daniel has not been missing since Saturday. See PA story MISSING Boy. PA Photo: Andrew Parsons (Image: Archant)

And the disappearance of little Daniel Entwistle has seen a tragic end this week after his father David was discovered dead at his Suffolk home.

Police confirmed the body of Mr Entwistle, aged in his early 50s, had been found in Lowestoft on Wednesday. Officers said yesterday they were treating his death as 'non-suspicious'.

Daniel disappeared from his home in Copperfield Avenue, Great Yarmouth, on May 3, 2003 at the age of seven. Residents living on the quiest residental street yesterday said the distressing case remained clear in their minds more than a decade on, and the death of Mr Enwistle had come as a shock.

One homeowner, who did not wish to be named, said Daniel's disppearance was 'heartbreaking' and was sad to hear of his dad's death.

Daniel Entwistle went missing in 2003. (Image: Newsquest)

'It's surreal isn't it, you don't expect any of it,' she said.

Natasha Linkhorn, whose family has lived in Copperfield Avenue for more than 20 years, added: 'I can't believe how long Daniel has been gone for, he's still remembered and won't be forgotten.'

The youngster, a pupil at Greenacre school when he went missing, was last seen at about 5pm on May 3 when he went out to play on his red BMX.

The alarm was raised by Mr Enwistle and Daniel's mum Paula after he failed to come home for tea. Norfolk Police launched a full-scale search of the area, involving numerous land, sea and air searches.

Daniel was caught on CCTV cameras at Blencowes, a local convenience store close to his home, at about 5.05pm on May 3 and in the early hours of the following day a bike, believed to be his, was found abandoned close to Trinity Quay in Yarmouth.

But despite immediate appealsfor information, including an emotional call from Mr Entwistle for help to find his 'special little boy', no trace of Daniel has ever been found.

Fresh appeals for have been made on the anniversaries of his disappearance, the most recent in 2013. Daniel's case remains open and to this day he remains a missing person.

A file into Mr Enwistle's death has been passed to Suffolk's coroner and a post mortem will be carried out.