Police launch search after teenager vanished in water at historic UK castle

Fintan Starkey
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:20:25 +0000

Police are taking part in an ongoing search for a teenager who “entered water” near a Welsh castle.

The police were alerted late on Tuesday afternoon to the incident near Chirk Castle in Wrexham County.

It is believed that the 17-year-old went into a lake near the National Trust-owned property.

Emergency services are in attendance at the scene as the search is ongoing.

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A police spokesman said: "Emergency services are currently responding to an incident at Chirk Castle.

"A 17-year-old male is believed to have entered water within the castle’s grounds yesterday afternoon and has not been seen since.

"Specialist search and rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate the missing teenager."

Detective Chief Superintendent Sian Beck added: “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones, who are being supported by specially trained officers at this incredibly difficult time.

“We respectfully ask members of the public to avoid the Chirk Castle area while emergency services carry out their work.

“We understand this incident is likely to cause concern, and we appreciate the public’s cooperation.

“Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service colleagues also attended in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.”

A spokesman for National Trust Cymru also said: “We are aware of an ongoing incident on land neighbouring National Trust Cymru's estate at Chirk Castle.

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The emergency services are in attendance, with access provided via our estate. All enquiries should be directed to North Wales Police.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was also in attendance for the search.

The castle that neighbours the lake dates back to 1595 and has over 700 years of history.

It is the last castle from its time still surviving today.

The castle is surrounded by five and a half acres of lawns.

The estate is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It has also been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest as an important habitat for rare invertebrates, bats, fungi, and wild flowers.