Lester McLennan: Appeal for pair who handed in missing man’s backpack to come forward as Giant’s Causeway search enters | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

An image released of two men who handed in a backpack belonging to Mr McLennan on Saturday

A coastguard helicopter was deployed for the search on Sunday morning

Police have appealed for two men who handed in a backpack belonging to a man who was reported missing from the Giant’s Causeway to come forward.

A multi-agency search is underway for Lester McLennan, who travelled to NI from the south of England with his mum, took a bus from Belfast to the area at approximately 9.30am on Friday November 1.

He was subsequently reported missing and a search was launched on Saturday.

The coastguard, community rescue teams, police resources and Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland North (SARDA) are working side by side to locate the missing 20-year-old.

A coastguard helicopter was also deployed on Sunday morning in an attempt to aid the search for the missing man.

Community Rescue Service (CRS) in Coleraine has said that while weather conditions for the search are good, daylight hours are limited. But teams working as part f the multi-agency search are working to cover a widening area, with efforts continuing into the night.

A coastguard helicopter was deployed for the search on Sunday morning

Regional Commander of the CRS, Sean McGarry said: "At the minute there’s different search teams involved spread out across the country. We’re searching areas that haven’t yet been done, spreading out a bit further every time.

"There is no indication at this moment and time where he might have gone other than the fact we do know that he made it to the Giant’s Causeway.

“We know he travelled from the south of England with his mother to Belfast, where he left to go up to the Giant’s Causeway for the day.”

The Giant’s Causeway is a popular tourist destination, drawing in nearly 700,000 visitors in 2023. Due to the rugged nature of the terrain, its rocky outcrops can pose a risk to visitors taking the cliff top trail.#

On Monday, the attraction’s social media account posted a photograph of two men who handed in a backpack understood to belong to Mr McLennan at their visitor centre on Saturday afternoon.

Mr McGarry advised members of the public to refrain from searching, adding that the involved rescue teams are fully equipped to handle the rough terrain.

Mr McGarry added: "There are cliffs, water and land so it’s a mixed bag, however all of our guys and the search teams are very well experienced.

"The conditions are pretty good, we only have a limited amount of daylight but we will continue searching in the night.”

Police are also asking for an individual who found a black backpack close to the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre to come forward so they can pinpoint exactly where it was found.

Lester is understood to have been carrying a black backpack when he went missing in the area.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: “Lester is a white male, 6’3” tall, of slim build with light brown hair and was wearing black glasses, light beige trousers with a dark belt, walking boots, a long grey coat to below the knee and a dark zip up jacket. Lester was also carrying a black backpack.”

“Officers are also keen to speak to the member of the public who located a black backpack in the area of the Giant’s Causeway and handed it to staff members there to contact them.”

“Police are appealing to Lester or anyone who may have seen him on 1st or 2nd November to contact them in Coleraine on 101, quoting reference number 76 02/11/24.”

News Catch Up - Monday 4th November

Join the Belfast Telegraph WhatsApp channel

Stay up to date with some of Northern Ireland's biggest stories

Daily Headlines Newsletter

Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening

Please check your inbox to verify your details