Human remains discovered in a well in Crete have solved a 10-year missing persons case.
Steven Cooke was 20 when he went missing on his first holiday away without his parents. He'd travelled from his home in Sandbach, Cheshire to Malia, Greece for a lads' holiday.
The last sighting of him was when he approached a bar asking for the route to his hotel, but walked off in the wrong direction. He'd been out drinking with friends but left a pub alone at the end of the night.
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His disappearance sparked a massive search. In 2015, his parents launched a fresh plea for information. Several sightings of a man matching Steven's description had led the family to believe that he was still alive.
An e-fit released by police last year of what Steven could have looked like. Credit: PA Images
Last week, workmen found his remains down at the bottom of a well while they were cleaning it out. Greek authorities then confirmed that the skeleton was Steven's. He was found with a disposable camera and belt.
Steven's family posted on Facebook: "Today we have learned that after over 11 years our much loved and missed son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend will be finally coming home to be with us again.
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"Whilst we always carried hope in our hearts that Steve would come back much sooner and once again be able to share in our lives the laughter, love and happiness that he brought in the 20 years he shone amongst us, sadly we will be bringing him home to say our farewells.
"To bring Steve back home was always our goal, and as the years passed our hope never diminished."
They then added: 'Having a loved one go missing is a vacuum full of pain.
"If they are no longer with us then the idle mind imagines horrors of 'what ifs' in order to account for them being alive and not in touch.
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"The 'not knowing' hurts but not as much as the thoughts that your imagination conjures in the dark hours whilst also having to try and quench the flames of 'what ifs', rumours and gossip that becomes accepted as fact.
"Knowing that Steve is now coming home is an end to all of that and the fog can lift at last.
"Our memories of him finally released without being accompanied by the horrific mental images, feelings and type of thoughts that can easily destroy you.
"In getting Steve home then we have truly found him again, and he will now continue to live through the shared memories of all that knew him."
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Tragic story.
Featured Image Credit: Find Steven Cook