'How will we do Christmas?' says missing Sam's mum

The mother of a man who has been missing for six weeks says she does not know how her family "will get through Christmas" without him.

Sam, 24, who is autistic, was last seen on 6 November near Plimsoll Way, Hull. CCTV footage from the area appears to show a figure entering the water which police believe may be Sam.

Helen Childs, Sam's mum said: "Christmas was the only day I'd get all three of my kids around the table at the same time, I'd do a massive Christmas dinner and breakfast. I just don't know how we'll do it this year.'

Humberside Police said their inquiries remain ongoing to understand Sam's movements and identify any additional information.

The family plans to eat in the living room on Christmas Day this year because they cannot face an empty place at the dinner table.

Ms Childs and her friends have carried out more than a dozen searches and left over 30 care packages around the city. She described seeing the CCTV footage as "utterly heartbreaking".

"I know my boy's gone, and it's his remains we'll find, which is hard, but we're just living in limbo. I just want the day to come where we can lay him to rest."

"I know he's out there in the water, and I know what happens to bodies in water. We really need that day to be able to lay him to rest, so we just have to keep hoping he appears," said Ms Childs.

Ms Childs said during the searches the family had help and support from the public.

She said: "I've had hugs of strangers in the street, we just feel so grateful.

"Sam was such a beautiful soul."

Humberside Police said underwater search teams have remained out on the water and officers continued to carry out enquiries using information from the public.

Under the Presumption of Death Act 2013, a missing person may be presumed dead if they have been missing for at least seven years, allowing their estate to be administered.

However, if there is evidence suggesting death a court can grant a declaration at an earlier date.

Until such an order is issued by a court, the individual remains legally alive, even if family or friends believe otherwise.

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