A Lincolnshire mum and dad have recalled the moment their much-loved son was found dead by police officers in October 2023. Alex Bracken, 28, who was described as a popular, kind, and thoughtful man, was last seen at the family home just outside of Lincoln on Monday, October 16 last year.
One year on from his death, Alex’s parents, Jayne and Wayne, have spoken about the search for him and what they went through before he was found. They said that Alex loved football and loved travelling, and even lived in Australia for a while.
His dad Wayne said: “I wish he’d have realised how much he was loved. Not just by us, but by his brother, his nephew, his nieces, and by his friends.” Jayne added: “Everyone who met Alex literally loved him.”
When Alex hadn’t been seen for a day, Jayne said they both had in their heads that Alex had just gone to a mate’s house and that “wasn’t anything unusual”. Jayne decided to send him a message on Wednesday evening. She said: “I texted him and I just put ‘Hi chick, are you back today?’, thinking that he’s going to go mad that I’ve texted him and said are you coming home, he’s not a little boy anymore.
“And then at about teatime we just had a bad feeling.” Wayne then texted Alex’s friends to check if he was ok. Both worried sick, Wayne decided to go to the police station and the search for Alex began straight away.
(Image: Lincolnshire Police)
When an officer searched Alex’s bedroom, a note was found and worrying search history was later discovered on his computer. Wayne and Jayne were amazed by the response from Lincolnshire Police who went “above and beyond” to find Alex – but their worst nightmare came true when his body was found and it was confirmed that he had taken his own life.
They hope that their video will help someone, somewhere and police are encouraging people to share it far and wide. A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Alex’s parents for taking the time to speak to us and for being so candid.
“We also spoke to those within Lincolnshire Police, who conducted the search for Alex to explain what they did and when. This video is by no means an exhaustive account of everyone who contributed to the search effort.
“Dozens of people went above and beyond, working extra hours to search for Alex. And without them, we would not have succeeded.”
Where to find help
The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
- PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
- Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity based in England providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
- Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
- Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
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