Police carry out underwater searches as they continue to look for missing Norwich woman
Wensum Park will remain closed as police searches continue
Last updated 12th Dec 2023
Police are carrying out underwater searches as they continue looking for a missing woman in Norwich.
55 year old Gaynor Lord was last seen on Friday afternoon, and declared missing that night - after some of her belongings, including clothes, jewellery and a phone, were found in Wensum Park. While her coat was found in the water.
Over the weekend, specialist search teams, including the police drone, carried out extensive searches of Wensum Park and while Gaynor wasn’t found, further belongings, including another item of jewellery were discovered.
Water based searches have also been carried out, with assistance from the police's Marine Unit, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, and the Coastguard.
They tell us sonar equipment was used during the searches, but nothing was found.
Yesterday, teams continued searching land around the park and waterways, and carried out ongoing CCTV enquiries to help establish Gaynor’s last known movements.
"We're doing everything we can"
Norwich Policing Commander Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: “We’re doing everything we can to find Gaynor and based on what we’ve found in the park, this remains our focus for the searches.
“Clearly, given the nearby waterways, we do have to be open to the possibility that Gaynor has entered the water and we’ve carried out extensive searches on the river this weekend.
“Naturally, our focus will now start to move to underwater searches and we’re seeking help from specialist teams to help with this complex task.
“Our priority is to find Gaynor and the park will remain closed while these searches continue. We’d ask the local community to bear with us while this takes place.
“This is clearly a distressing time for her family and we continue to keep them updated of ongoing work in this case.”
Last sighting
Gaynor was last seen in the city centre on London Street at 2.35pm on Friday, heading towards Norwich Cathedral.
She hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
She is described as white, 5ft 6 tall, and was wearing a white shirt and yellow tank top with a large olive-coloured coat over the top and a scarf.
She has blonde shoulder length hair in a bob.
Anyone with information, or who knows of her whereabouts, is being urged to contact police.