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24/08/2012
Drone Used In Portrush Missing Man Search
A small unmanned drone was used in the search for a missing 24-year-old man today.
Dean Patton from Portrush has been missing since July 24 and his family called in the Sky Watch charity to help, by using the unmanned mini-plane along the Portrush coastline.
It recorded high-definition images of Rathmore head , along with other cliff faces, ledges and the sea up to 100 metres out, at low tide.
The images have been handed over to police in Coleraine for analysis.
It is believed to be the first time a drone has been deployed in the search for a missing person in Northern Ireland.
Dean's uncle Gerry said the young man's parents John and Linda are "devastated" by the situation.
Dean has not had any contact with friends for family since he was last seen a month ago.
The SkyWatch charity has been in operation elsewhere in the UK for 10 years.
Its involvement came about after Paul Trimble from the charity visited Portrush on holiday and contacted Gerry, having heard about the search for Dean.
Mr Trimble said: "The drones are totally different to military drones.
"I developed these myself. They are basically high-end model airplanes with auto-pilot and high-definition cameras. We can fly 24/7 in almost all weather except dense fog. So, when the police air support unit is grounded due to low cloud, we can fly. That's where the benefit is."
(NE)
Dean Patton from Portrush has been missing since July 24 and his family called in the Sky Watch charity to help, by using the unmanned mini-plane along the Portrush coastline.
It recorded high-definition images of Rathmore head , along with other cliff faces, ledges and the sea up to 100 metres out, at low tide.
The images have been handed over to police in Coleraine for analysis.
It is believed to be the first time a drone has been deployed in the search for a missing person in Northern Ireland.
Dean's uncle Gerry said the young man's parents John and Linda are "devastated" by the situation.
Dean has not had any contact with friends for family since he was last seen a month ago.
The SkyWatch charity has been in operation elsewhere in the UK for 10 years.
Its involvement came about after Paul Trimble from the charity visited Portrush on holiday and contacted Gerry, having heard about the search for Dean.
Mr Trimble said: "The drones are totally different to military drones.
"I developed these myself. They are basically high-end model airplanes with auto-pilot and high-definition cameras. We can fly 24/7 in almost all weather except dense fog. So, when the police air support unit is grounded due to low cloud, we can fly. That's where the benefit is."
(NE)
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