Police continue to probe mystery of missing cyclist

Mr Campbell, 49, a keen cyclist, left his home in the village of Kells on the afternoon of Sunday, January 1

and his family raised the alarm after he did not return that evening.

The electrical contractor is married, a father of three and a grandfather, police said.

An officer, wearing similar clothes to those Mr Campbell was last seen wearing and riding his recovered bicycle, staged the reconstruction on Sunday.

The route he is believed to have taken on New Year’s Day and which police covered again at the weekend took in Kells, Broughshane, Carnlough and Glenarm.

Speaking on Sunday, Detective inspector Bob Blemmings said: “We are following a number of lines of inquiry but we always a find a reconstruction may jog memories. We are looking for information as to what may have

happened after Samuel left home at 2pm on Sunday, January 1.”

Mr Blemmings said Mr Campbell left his home on the Kilgad Road and was last seen on the Tully Road just around the corner from where he lived. His bicycle was spotted on a beach near Glenarm by a woman

passing on a bus on the evening of Tuesday, January 3.

He said: “It’s been a very difficult week for Sam’s family and friends. We are working hard to find out what has happened to Sam and to see him re-united with his family”.

“He has a very supportive family network and community and the longer he is missing the more concerned we are. It is possible he may have taken ill or been injured and we can’t rule out the possibility that he may have voluntarily gone missing.”

Sunday’s reconstruction took in the Tully Road in Kells, Broughshane Main Street, The Sheddings junction between Broughshane and carnlough, Carnlough village and Glenarm.

Due to the effects of the beach where the bicycle was found, its chain did not lend itself to cycling the entire route. However, a police officer wearing similar clothes staged a reconstruction for about 10

minutes at each location, while officers stopped members of the public to ask if they had seen Mr

Campbell a week before.

Last week searches for Mr Campbell focused in the coastal area between Ballygally Head and Garron point, involving police and the coastguard.

When last seen out cycling near his home in Kells, Mr Campbell was wearing a red top with the letters TCG on it, black cycle leggings and cycle glasses.

He is around six foot tall, of a slim build with short dark hair.

Detective Inspector Blemmings appealed for anyone who might have seen Mr Campbell cycling on New Year’s Day or who might have information about his whereabouts to contact Ballymena CID on 0845 600 8000.

“We are appealing for anyone with any information – no matter how insignificant – to come forward and help us with our inquiries. It would also be important for anyone who was cycling in the area and wearing similar clothing to Mr Campbell around the time of his disappearance, to contact us so they can be eliminated from our inquiry,” he said.