Over 1,000 taxi drivers contacted in ongoing search for missing Bristol man
Updated: May 21
In the search for 23-year-old Jack O'Sullivan, who vanished in Bristol, over 1,000 taxi drivers have been approached by police officers.
The extensive contact effort forms part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Jack O'Sullivan was last observed in the early hours of Saturday 2 March, after a night out with friends. His last confirmed sighting was at 3:13am as he moved onto the grassy area at the junction of Brunel Lock Way and Brunel Way in Bristol. Potential further sightings place him on the Plimsoll Bridge around 3:25am and on the Bennett Way slip road at approximately 3:38am.
Authorities are keen to gather dashcam footage or any eyewitness accounts from taxi drivers who were navigating the Cumberland Basin network during these critical early morning hours. Such information could prove vital in piecing together Jack's movements.
Furthermore, police are contacting vehicle owners who travelled through the same areas during the timeframe in question. These individuals are also being asked to share any footage or information that could assist the investigative team.
In addition to vehicle-related inquiries, a new CCTV clip has been released. It shows a member of the public, possibly a vital witness, walking a dog around the Brunel Swing Bridge and Cumberland Basin at 4:30am on the same day. This person, who was wearing a green padded jacket with a fur-lined hood and accompanied by a black dog with a red collar, is urged to come forward.
Jack is described as a white male, approximately 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build, with short brown hair. On the night of his disappearance, he was wearing a green/brown quilted Barbour jacket, a beige woollen jumper, navy chinos, and brown shoes with a white sole.
Senior Investigating Officer DI Jason Chidgey said: “We hope this renewed focus on drivers or motorists using the road system around Hotwells and the Cumberland Basin on the morning of Saturday 2 March will yield more potential footage which can help us provide answers to Jack’s family about what happened to him.
“We know there were a significant number of vehicles in the area during this time and we’ve previously appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward – with a particular focus on the area of Brunel Way, Brunel Lock Road, Junction Swing Bridge, Plimsol Swing Bridge or the Portway, anytime between 2.45am and 4am on Saturday 2 March. We’re also still appealing for any mobile phone or doorbell footage.
“Our thoughts are very much with Jack’s family who are going through an unimaginable ordeal, and we’re committed to supporting them in any way we can.
“To date, we have reviewed and re-reviewed more than 100 hours’ worth of CCTV footage, as well as carrying out extensive land and river searches, involving the dog and mounted section, specialist diver teams using sonar technology, the National Police Air Service (NPAS), and a specialist review team.
“We’ve sought and continue to seek independent advice from a range of experts to try and identify any lines of enquiry we still need to progress.”
