Worrying footage shows mum jumping into sea in Caribbean before going missing

Worrying footage appears to show a missing woman jumping into the sea during a trip to the Caribbean before going missing. Mum Elizabeth 'Liz' Waddell, 44, was seen in newly released footage jumping into the water and swimming just hours before she vanished on the island of Grenada.

Liz, from North Carolina, was reported to have been staying at an Airbnb with a friend in the white sand beach resort of Grand Anse in the capital of St. George’s on the day that she vanished.

Home surveillance footage from the rental, now shared by Liz's family, captured her enjoying the home before what is thought to be the last possible sighting of her.

The harrowing clip appears to show the mum walking towards the beach at around 11:45 a.m, according to timestamps, before then jumping off a jetty and into the water minutes later. The footage has been shared by her family on dedicated website findliz.com.

Waddell later returned to view of the CCTV camera around 19 minutes later and began heading towards Grand Anse beach at 12:04 a.m, according to her husband, Cailen Waddell.

In a post on the website, he said: “I went out and did this swim yesterday. It is easy. There are lots of rocks you can stop at if you need. The water is shallower near shore, where Liz could touch if she wanted and the water is like a lake, not like ocean water we experience in North Carolina.”

Although the video footage was the last known sighting of her, police are investigating reports that a group of jetskiers had interacted with a woman matching her description.

Cailen added: "The police are working to connect with these people and determine a more precise location; they are also working to collect security footage from all Hotels along the Beach."

The Royal Grenada Police Force had first reported the mum was missing on 23 July, and shared an appeal. A photo of Liz leaving the Airbnb property, captured from the camera footage, showed her wearing blue-and-white striped shorts and burnt orange top.

Footage captured the mum leaving the rental (findliz.com)

According to USA Today, the Grenada Coast Guard and local dive professionals have also joined the major efforts to find Waddell and are carrying out extensive underwater searches.

Investigators are also said to be trying to reconstruct her movements leading up to her disappearance, and that they are tracing witnesses and reviewing photographs and video footage from nearby.

Family issue heartbreaking statement

A statement shared by her family on the website findliz.com on Wednesday said that 'exhaustive' efforts had been taken to try and trace her after she first vanished on 22 July.

It read: "I want to update our friends, family, and the public on the search for my wife, Liz, who went missing on July 22 while traveling with her friend in Grenada. Over the past week, family, friends, local authorities, and countless Grenadian citizens have devoted hundreds of hours to trying to locate her.

"Despite our exhaustive efforts, we have not been successful. After careful and thoughtful consultation with family, local authorities, the U.S. Embassy, and others here in Grenada, I join authorities in believing there was no foul play.

Photos of Liz were shared by her family on their website (findliz.com)

"Liz was last seen swimming in the ocean near Grand Anse, around 5:30 PM, far from shore. She communicated her confidence in her swimming and location, as well as the beauty of the island. The missing person investigation into her disappearance will continue, and we are specifically hopeful to determine her actions between the time she was last seen on video and the time she was seen in the water around 5:30, as well as any further sightings. No detail is too small.

"As some friends and family begin returning home to start processing everything that has occurred, we want to thank our friends and family as well as the local authorities for their compassionate, and tireless efforts to locate Liz.

"I also want to thank the many friends, loved ones, and specifically every Grenadian we have encountered for their love, thoughts, vibes, energy, and prayers in response to this heartbreaking situation. At this time, I ask for privacy for my family and loved ones."