The mother of the missing 23-year-old who disappeared from her Norfolk home yesterday has told how she was ‘totally heartbroken’ as a desperate search for her continued.
Dawn Howell spoke of her agony as police and specialist search teams combed a windswept beach for any trace of her daughter Chelsie Dack who was reported missing yesterday at 3am from her home in Gorleston-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth.
In an emotional Facebook post, Mrs Howell said: ‘We are totally heartbroken. So out of character she is just the loveliest caring and beautiful young lady.’
Chelsie, who worked for an estate agency and as a part-time as a nail technician, is described as white, slim, and 5ft 7in with pink shoulder length hair.
Chelsie Dack, 23, was reported missing yesterday at 3am from her home in Gorleston-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth
Today volunteers from Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue combed the beach at Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, in search of the missing 23-year-old
Police and volunteers continued their search along the beach for Chelsie today after she was reported missing at 3am on Monday
It is understood that police believe she may have headed to the nearby fast-flowing River Yare or the seafront area.
Her family are baffled by her disappearance, saying it is out of character for her to go missing.
Relatives and friends have set up a Find Chelsie page on Facebook which has attracted more than 8,000 followers.
They have also printed and put up hundreds of posters on lamp posts and on shops and business premises around the seaside town.
The huge search for Chelsie was launched soon after friends reported her missing at 3am on Monday.
Volunteers from the Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue with a dog trained to hunt for missing people joined the search for a second day today.
They walked up and down beach areas in a search pattern, assisted by a police drone team.
A Coastguard helicopter and the crew of the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat earlier scoured the coastline on Monday morning, but found nothing.
Norfolk Police said in a statement that the search for Chelsie was being ‘focused on the seafront area of Gorleston.’
Police believe Chelsie, who works as a sales negotiator for Howards estate agents in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and also as a part time nail technician, may have headed to the nearby fast-flowing River Yare or the seafront area
Today volunteers from the Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue continued their search for a second day and walked up and down beach areas in a search pattern, assisted by a police drone team
Volunteers have also been sticking hundreds of posters on lamp posts, gates and shops in the area
Officers have taken to social media to try and discourage friends of Chelsie from launching mass searches for her due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Detectives are also carrying out inquiries to see if there is any CCTV footage of her taken by cameras in shops, business or from homes which she may have walked past.
The statement said: ‘Chelsie’s disappearance is out of character and as more time passes, police are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare. ‘
Chelsie works as a sales negotiator for Howards estate agents in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and also as a part time nail technician
A spokesperson for Howards said: ‘Her colleagues have joined the search and are desperately praying for her safe return.’
Chelsie’s mother said on Monday: ‘I cannot get my head around this. It’s very out of the ordinary as she is the most bubbliest person.
‘She really is so happy and cheerful. I’ve got no idea at all why she might have gone missing. We were texting last night and she seemed absolutely fine.
‘Hopefully someone will find her safe and well as I just want her back.’
Chelsie is described as white, of slim build, about 5ft 7in, with pink shoulder length hair
Mrs Howell, who also lives in Gorleston, said she did not believe that her daughter had become depressed due to the coronavirus lockdown.
She added: ‘I don’t think it was anything to do with that. She was happy. We just don’t understand it.’
In a Facebook post as the search for Chelsea got underway, she said: ‘My daughter has gone missing, and I’m out of my mind with worry.
‘Everyone is out looking including police. Please could anyone who has seen or had contact with Chelsie please pm me. share share share…..’
Chelsie’s sister Olivia Dack added in another post: ‘Can anyone that has had recent contact with my sister Chelsie Dack please message me or call me! Please share x’
Chelsie showed no sign of being under stress in her most recent Facebook post on Sunday when she thanked a person who had found her missing driving licence in the street and posted it back to her.
Earlier in the day she also posted two selfies of herself smiling and sticking her tongue out, prompting her mother to reply ‘Beautiful’.
Olivia also thanked members of the Find Chelsie group for their sympathy and their offers of help.
She said: ‘We’d all like to thank you for your efforts so far but please be mindful of social distancing rules as we need to make sure we are still keeping safe and allowing the police to do their job.
‘Please also remember to keep speculating to an absolute minimum and to keep this page for support only to respect the family’s privacy at this time.’
She added: ‘We are arranging for posters to be dropped off at four hubs in different areas of Gorleston for people to grab whilst out on their daily exercise and to take home and put in cars and windows.’
Anyone with information should contact Norfolk Police immediately on 101.