Swollen river hinders search for York accountant

Chris Baker, 29, has not been seen since 7.15am on Thursday, December 20, when he suddenly abandoned his car in the middle of traffic in York city centre and jumped over a wall on the banks of the river.

Mr Baker, of Albemarle Road, York, was on his way to Hull Royal Infirmaryand his job as an accountant for the City Healthcare Partnership.

He shocked motorists by abandoning his grey Renault Megane on Skeldergate Bridge and “gestured” to a woman in the car behind him before jumping over the wall of the bridge into Tower Gardens.

It was raining heavily at the time but Mr Baker was in his shirt and left his waterproof in the car.

Officers say they are baffled by his disappearance, which is described as out of character.

North Yorkshire Police have been making inquiries but have so far been unable to locate Mr Baker, and the focus of the investigation is now being centred on the river, although officers are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened.

Flood water has limited the search almost since it began, but it was hoped levels had dropped sufficiently to allow an underwater search yesterday.

The Regional Underwater Search Team launched just after 9am and travelled down to Naburn lock before heading upstream towards York.

But the water was still too high for an underwater search to be carried out and officers are continuing to monitor water levels in the hope this will be possible over the next few days.

Officers were still able to use sonar equipment from the boat to search the river and its banks but could find no trace of the missing man when the search was suspended yesterday.

Mr Baker lives with his wife Megan and the couple moved to the city from Burry Port in Carmarthenshire, Wales, about six months ago.

Police are not aware of anything in Mr Baker’s background that may have triggered his disappearance and have renewed appeals for anyone who might have information about his history to come forward.

Mr Baker’s father Peter, speaking from his home in Dolau Fan, Wales, said he was too upset to talk at length about his son’s disappearance.

“The police are doing all they can,” he told the Llanelli Star. “Everybody is aware of the situation. It is devastating, of course. Very upsetting.”

A force spokesman said: “The Regional Underwater Search Team today conducted a search of the River Ouse for missing York man Chris Baker. Officers using sonar equipment searched the river and its banks by boat from Naburn upstream to the city centre. The river levels were still deemed too high to conduct an underwater search but it is hoped this will be possible over the next few days.”

Speaking shortly after his disappearance, Chief Insp Phil Cain said: “This is a very unusual set of circumstances and is totally out of character for Chris to act in this way.

“It is clearly a very worrying time for Chris’s family, who he is very close to, and I am urging the public to help us locate him.

“The police are especially keen to hear from anyone who was either on their way to work, walking their dog, or out jogging along the river bank between Millennium Bridge and King’s Staith at around 7.15am.”

Mr Baker is white, about 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build, has curly, dark brown hair and was last seen wearing a striped work shirt.