Grieving family's tribute to Kelvin Bradley (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Family pay tribute as Newcastle body confirmed as missing Ferryhill teenager, Kelvin Bradley
8:30am Saturday 4th August 2012 in News
By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield)
Kelvin with sisters Kirstie, 21, left, and Sophie,16, on a recent holiday
THE family of teenager Kelvin Bradley paid tribute to “a wonderful son” after a body was formally identified as his.
Police had been searching for the 18-year-old since he failed to return home to Cleves Cross, Ferryhill, County Durham, after a night out in Newcastle last Saturday.
Yesterday, police confirmed that a body found in a service area at the rear of the Eldon Square shopping complex, on Thursday, was Kelvin.
His death is not being treated as suspicious.
In a statement issued yesterday, Kelvin’s family said: “We would like to thank Durham and Northumbria Police, the security staff at Eldon Square, Kelvin’s friends, the family and friends of the family, and everyone who has assisted in searching for our wonderful son.
“He will be sadly missed and never forgotten.”
“Me and my family are so grateful for all the support, it’s unreal how many people actually care.
Kelvin's sister, Sophie, 16
His father, John, stepmother, Jill Middleton, and sisters, Kirstie, 21, and Sophie,16, described him as a likeable, artistic boy when they made a public appeal for help after his disappearance.
Last night, Sophie used Facebook to thank the many friends who sent condolence messages and tributes to the family.
She said: “Sorry for not replying to anyone’s messages, texts, tweets and wall posts.
“Me and my family are so grateful for all the support, it’s unreal how many people actually care.
“I just can’t believe this is reality, it hasn’t sunk in at all.
I’m just expecting him to come home tomorrow and we’ll all be together.
“Everyone needs to be so grateful for what they have.
“You see things like this on telly but you never imagine it’ll happen to you.
“My heart goes out to his friends, they must be hurting as much as we are.
“Kelvin, if they have Facebook in heaven, giz a cheeky poke just to let me know you’re ok, I love you.”
She called Kelvin her guardian angel, and friends posted tributes and shared memories of the former Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College pupil, who they described as funny, talented and artistic.
One said: “You were one of the most amazing people in the entire world.”
A former school friend said: “Words cannot describe how absolutely unreal you are Kelvin. Most talented, beautiful, charming, outgoing, funny person I’ve ever met.”
Kelvin had recently started work at graphic design company Tower Design, in Hartlepool , after leaving Durham Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre.
An inquest will take place in due course.
