Missing Wirral pensioner found dead in Birkenhead dock

Aug 12 2009 by Samantha Parker, Birkenhead News

THE body of a missing pensioner from Wirral was pulled from East Float Dock, in Birkenhead, on Monday afternoon.

Alzheimer's sufferer Elizabeth Carter, 66, from Leyburn Avenue, Wallasey, was reported missing by her son at 2.20pm on Sunday after she failed to come home from St Hillary's Church, in Claremont Road, where she had attended a service.

A huge police search was launched after Mrs Carter left behind some of her belongings in church, including her cardigan and a bag containing money.

She suffered from Alzheimer’s and depression and had gone missing once before, on August 5, but was found in Seabank Road, Wallasey, by her family.

Extra officers were drafted in to help Wirral neighbourhood teams search Wallasey and the surrounding area into the early hours of Monday. It continued until her body was discovered at 4.20pm.

The force helicopter and police dogs were used to try to locate Mrs Carter.

Her family were being comforted by relatives and police support officers after they were told of her death.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: “Sadly, we are able to confirm that the body pulled from the East Float Dock has been identified as that of Elizabeth Carter.”