Topic: Steve Cook, missing in Crete, can you help?

[Armin]

Many of you will already have heard of the plight of Liverpool supporter Steven Cook who went missing on the 1st September.   Anyone who reads ynwa.tv knows what bright, cheerful and witty characters Steve and his brother are.   What you may not know is that Steven was a member of Rawk forums as well as YNWA.TV.  We'd like to do everything we can to try and get Steven back home to his family so please take a minute and read about his case.



The disappearance

It's now nine days since Steven was last seen following a night out in the resort town of Malia in Crete.  He flew out from Manchester on the 30th August and went out with his friends.  We know that Steven was in 'Mikes Bar' at the top end of Beach Street in Malia.  Steven was staying at the Frixos Hotel Malia.  His passport, return ticket and money were left in his room.  At the time he went missing Steven was wearing a pink t shirt and black combat trousers.  It should be stressed that this disappearance is completely out of character, Steven is not the kind of lad to leave his friends and family worrying about his whereabouts.

The Search

Steven's brothers Chris (Spike Starski/Fabgear) and Tony flew out to Crete, they've been helping to coordinate a series of search parties with the help of the local police force, as well as the ex-pat community on Crete and reps and holidaymakers in the resort.

Two days ago Steven was due to fly back from Crete but failed to turn up at the airport. Hospitals on the island have been contacted following reports of patients that matched Steven's description but unfortunately all the leads that have so far been followed up have come to nought.

Chris is in constant touch with friends and family back home and in one of his last communications said, “The police here are doing an excellent job, they are following every lead and every reported ‘unidentified’ lad who gets taken to hospital. They’ve had eight cars out searching and got a Land Rover out when the cars could not go any further”. He went onto praise the locals in Malia who have been supporting Chris in every way possible, “They have been brilliant, offering food and drink during the long day searching and have even joined in those searches”. Chris says he cannot thank them enough for what they are doing.

How can people help?

Take part in a search
As the searches still go on, the internet has become a great help in assisting his family over in Crete. Graham Mattingley – owner of the website www.malia.co.uk - reacted to an appeal put on the site’s forums by Chris by organising seats on a flight to Malia by contacting First Choice who kindly donated those seats to friends of Steve and people who wish to help in the search for him.  The flight is scheduled to leave Manchester Airport around midnight on Friday, although it had been postponed it appears it's now back on and should you be able to help please get in touch by emailing: kahnjohnson@hotmail.com

Donate to the support fund
Obviously conducting a search like this takes both time and money.  To try and help Steve's family and friends conduct the search there's been an appeal fund set up.  You can donate to the fund here: 

ynwa@bromage-smith.com

All monies raised will be held or sent onto Steve’s family in Crete.  Many of this sites members have already proved extraordinairily generous in their support of another red in trouble, we wouldn't post another appeal so soon if the need wasn't urgent in the extreme.

Steve’s family back home are overwhelmed by the response and the appeal for help and his father Norman wants to pass on their sincere thanks to everyone. A website has been set-up by his family www.findstevencook.co.uk for people to leave any information they feel that can help in finding their son.  Please only use the address if you have information which could help in the search, we will of course pass on any messages of support you wish to leave on this thread to the family.

If you, or someone you know is about to head out to Crete on holiday please consider taking along some posters and flyers and leaving them in any bars / hotels you visit.  Posters and Flyers can be downloaded here:

http://www.ilsa.org.uk/stevencook.jpg

http://www.ilsa.org.uk/stevencook.pdf

http://www.ilsa.org.uk/stevencookA5.pdf

If you know anyone who is resident on Crete, please pass this information on to them, the more eyes and ears that are looking for Steven the better the chance of someone being able to help.

If you have recently returned from Crete and have any information, no matter how trivial it may seen to you, or recognise Steve from his photograph, please contact his family via www.findstevencook.co.uk or by phoning Cheshire CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.



As the words of the song go Steven's family are walking through the storm at the moment.  Thanks again for any help and support you can provide for them.

(c) Rawk

[WesternRed]

Thanks, Armin.  A very valuable and important post!
Let's hope Steve comes back safe and sound!!!

YNWA.

[Jessie]

I will e-mail this information around my work place and to my friends and family at home & abroad. (just incase anyone is going there.)

Maybe others can do the same.

Good luck to Steve's family and friends in their search .. I hope he is soon found safe & well.

[Chris C]

THanks for your help on all of this. I have written the following account of events after liasing with the UK police who have talked things through with Steve's mates:

The events:

Just before 8.30pm Steve and his friends set off from the Frixos hotel on an organised bar crawl.

At 20.30 they arrived at the Banana Bar
At 21.00pm they moved onto Babylon
At 21.40 they moved onto Exodus
At 22.20 they moved onto Midway
At 23.00 they went to Liquid
At 23.40 they went to Camelot

They were then scheduled to go onto Factory at 00.20 and at 1.00 go to Club UK where they would remain for the rest of the night.

Roughly around midnight Steve and his friend, Andy, whom were sharing a room, decided to head back to their hotel for a sleep.

They were also considering getting some food.

On the way back up the street they were approached by a PR who told them they could get a pint in his bar for just one euro. This was in the proximity of the Royal Oak (the lads had eaten at the Oak earlier in the day) but on the opposite side of the street.

Deciding to have one last pint Steve and Andy went in.

The bar was extremely busy and this is where the two lost contact with each other.

Not being able to locate Steve, Andy went back to either the Camelot or Factory to meet up with the group they had left earlier. This was at around 00.40.

Between 00.30 and 1.00 Steve was seen outside of Mike's Pub at the top of the street asking a PR girl called Rebecca for directions to the Frixos. Not being able to help him, Rebecca saw Steve then head left (in the opposite direction of the Frixos) on the main street towards Sisi.

He has not been seen since, would only have had around 30-40 euros left and only had one bank card on his person at the time. No cash has been taken out of his account since his disappearance. He had also left his mobile phone in his room.


Physical description:

Age: 20
Height: 5' 9" - 5' 10"
Eyes: Green / Brown
Build: Medium
Hair: Dark brown. Short at the back and sides and spiked up with wax on top.

Distinguishing features: Steve had a scar at the outer corner of his right eye. He also had a scar between 1/2 - 1" long on the back of his head. Steve also bit his nails.

Clothing:

T-shirt
Steve was wearing a faded pink / salmon t-shirt with the wording CROSSHATCH written across the chest. The T-shirt also had white trimmings on the arms and on the round neck collar. The T-shirt also had a dragon motif on the front.

Trousers:
Black combat trousers

Shoes:
White Adidas 'Stan Smith'.

Personality:

Steve was a nice lad who if involved in a confrontational situation would be apologetic and back down. He has never been known to disappear like this before and always keeps in touch with his family when he is away from home - either through the Internet or by mobile.

He had no girlfriend and no trouble in his life. He had been making plans with his brother prior to going away to buy tickets for the Liverpool / Chelsea champions league game.

He was an avid Liverpool fan and if he met any other football fans out there would no doubt have mentioned Liverpool FC, the champions league win and his trip to Istanbul.

Steve studies Business and Marketing at Liverpool university where he is due to enter his 3rd and final year.


I will try and keep you all updated but there is still no news. There are a few lines of enquiry we are looking into but there is nothing concrete and we have to discount every lead we get.

Thanks to everyone who has offered their support and kind words. I am more determined than ever to find my bro and bring him home.