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Original poster

Pierre Barnes - Missing British 12 year old in France

26 replies

GreatAuntMaud · 31/10/2012 11:29

Has anyone heard of this story? It hasn't got much coverage what with recent events. Poor lad.

It's strange that he went missing on Saturday and by Tuesday his father is talking about him in the past tense and guessing where his body might be found. The boy is 12, and said to be "strong" and "tough", surely there would be hope? Though it doesn't bode well that they found one shoe and his broken bike Sad.

OP posts:
CogitoEerilySpooky · 31/10/2012 11:32

I also thought it was slightly odd that they seem to have given up on him so quickly. Most missing child cases are characterised by lots of hopeful statements.

meditrina · 31/10/2012 11:42

I's a dreadful story isn't it?

But if a good initial search was made (and the French have good standards, don't they, and 150 locals turned out to help) his shoe and bicycle were found on a Coastal path, the possibility of being washed out to sea was evident, and the weather had worsened significantly during the time he was out; even a parent can come to accept his death after 4 days missing.

They were able to rule out abduction from the island early on as there were no boat movements.

Original poster
GreatAuntMaud · 31/10/2012 11:55

Meditrina, he was reported missing at 9pm on Saturday (after going for his bike ride at 6pm, when he was given permission to ride out for 15 minutes by his mother) and the interview was on Tuesday, when the father had given up all hope.

But I see what you mean about a thorough search being done, since it's quite a small island. Very possible of course.

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safflower · 31/10/2012 11:57

His father is decidely calm in his interview. It struck me as odd. Most would be so emotional. I am sure he is not involved or any suspicious, it just seems a bit peculiar.

Ponders · 31/10/2012 12:00

There were 80mph winds after he'd gone out, I heard on the news, & the bike had no chain when it was found (don't know if that's anything to do with the winds). Winds that strong could easily blow a child over - are there cliffs, if there's a coastal path?

Although the island is small, it's still 4 miles by 2 miles, which is a lot of land to cover.

He's the youngest in the family, it is very sad Sad

Original poster
GreatAuntMaud · 31/10/2012 12:05

I think they might be a bit old-school and formal, a bit like the Famous Five parents. Nothing wrong with that, and complete speculation of course, but that's the impression I get with quotes like "slightly eccentric little chap" and the way the father speaks in general.

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meditrina · 31/10/2012 12:06

Yes there are cliffs.

Doobydoo · 31/10/2012 16:19

Parents prob in utter shock.Little chap goes to my son's school.He had just started.Poor poor family and little boy.

ssd · 31/10/2012 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VivaLeBeaver · 31/10/2012 16:35

Very sad, I don't think his father came across as suspicious at all.

It sounds like he went out, maybe got a bit lost, bad weather came in and he's slipped off a cliff path.

bulby · 31/10/2012 16:37

FFS the man has just lost his son. There has been no allegation of foul play as far as I am aware and I think some of the comments on this thread are beyond contempt- how dare people suggest a grieving father is suspicious because he doesn't conform to your expectation of how he should behave. I hope to goodness that no member of the family ever comes across this thread.
My thoughts are with the family.

ssd · 31/10/2012 17:10

I've reported my post, regretted it as soon as I pressed post

agree the man is obviously in shock and grieving, I hope the family get closure soon

ssd · 31/10/2012 20:48

thanks MNHQ

Original poster
GreatAuntMaud · 01/11/2012 17:53

Sad news :(

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safflower · 01/11/2012 19:28

yes, its awful, poor family. Going back to how the father reacted, he has spoken of the body being taken for an autopsy and referred to "it" and not him. Very stiff upper lip, I suppose.

Sagelyhaunting · 01/11/2012 19:35

So so sad. I live near to this island-the weather on our bit of the coast was atrocious when he went missing, I don't think he would have stood a chance, poor soul. Heartbreaking.

Ponders · 01/11/2012 20:19

oh - poor little lad

& poor family. His elder sister said something recently about getting used to being a family of 5 now, not a family of 6 Sad

meditrina · 01/11/2012 22:26

Sad news, a body has been found in deep water close to where his bicycle was found - BBC item here.

backtofront · 03/11/2012 10:03

is it not the case that a body would float in deep water unless it was weighed down?

backtofront · 03/11/2012 10:05

I mean a dead body...

Athendof · 03/11/2012 10:10

Fgs! A guy drowned on shallow waters in a river near my house (probably fell in while drunk when nobody was looking), it took nine months for the body to float to the surface. It is not unusual for bodies to get stuck in other Debris covered by water hence why the get divers rather than just look at the surface before calling off the search Hmm

LeeCoakley · 03/11/2012 10:21

Condolences to the family Sad

I feel so sorry for grieving people who manage to keep it together for the few minutes whilst being interviewed because apparently this equates to guilt. (Remember the McCanns?). Never mind they are probably helpless with grief for the other 23 hours each day when we don't see them.

backtofront · 03/11/2012 10:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Athendof · 03/11/2012 11:19

So, a child falls into the sea and you think the dad is involved because he is not showing in the cameras as an emotional wreck? Hmm

backtofront · 03/11/2012 11:46

no point in posting further on here...as you were...