Brother of teen missing for almost a month says life feels 'empty'

The heartbroken member of a teen who vanished astir a period agone has told Sky News of the "hell" his household are surviving done portion the hunt goes on.

Cole Cooper, 19, was past seen by an aged schoolhouse person connected Wednesday 7 May, successful the colony of Longcroft adjacent Falkirk, successful cardinal Scotland.

His brother, Connor Cooper, said beingness feels "empty" without his sibling.

Speaking to Sky News Breakfast connected Monday, Connor said: "We conscionable consciousness mislaid not having him successful our lives astatine the infinitesimal portion he's been missing.

"It's hell, if I'm being brutally honest, for each of us.

"One infinitesimal you're fine, adjacent minute... not adjacent fine, if that makes sense?

"But you're coping amended than what you mightiness person done the time before, and past the adjacent infinitesimal you're conscionable breaking down.

"And I cognize that was maine past night, I was conscionable breaking down. It's truly pugnacious connected america all.

"We're conscionable trying to instrumentality each time and each infinitesimal arsenic it comes. It is hellhole though. I would ne'er privation this connected anyone."

Cole was reported missing connected Friday 9 May.

He was earlier captured connected CCTV successful the Longcroft country astatine astir 6am connected Sunday 4 May, aft leaving a location enactment successful the area.

Police Scotland said the past confirmed sighting was astatine 8.45pm connected the A803 astatine its intersection with Cumbernauld Road, Longcroft, connected Wednesday 7 May.

Chief Inspector Alex Hatrick antecedently told Sky News determination had been nary grounds of criminality.

More than 220 properties person been visited, and much than 1,000 hours of CCTV footage collected, arsenic portion of the force's efforts to find Cole.

Specialist resources from crossed the state person been mobilised to help, including the constabulary chopper and drones from the aerial enactment unit, arsenic good arsenic officers from the dive and marine unit.

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Connor believes the enactment of Police Scotland volition assistance propulsion the probe arsenic the household proceed to question answers arsenic to what has happened.

He said: "For Cole, this is precise abnormal. It's precise overmuch retired of his character. He's never, ever done thing similar this."

Connor said adjacent if his member wanted immoderate abstraction oregon unsocial time, helium would person told household oregon friends and "would ne'er enactment his younger siblings done this".

He added: "So, the information that he's been missing for coming up to a period - he's not utilized his phone, nary slope paper has been used, thing similar that - it's precise overmuch retired of character.

"And I genuinely judge Cole would ne'er bash thing similar this."

Speaking to Sky News past week, Cole's mum spoke of her fears that helium whitethorn person been "picked up successful a car".

Wendy Stewart told of her heartbreak, adding: "I person been wanting to aftermath up, and it's conscionable been a large nightmare."

Cole's household said the joinery apprentice precocious started up his ain fencing and decking business, which was thriving.

Connor warmly described his member arsenic "funny, goofy, smart, but gullible a bit".

He added: "My member is 1 of the astir loving, caring radical you would ever travel across. He ever wears his bosom connected his sleeve.

"For the radical that helium loves and cares about, helium truly wants them to bash good successful life."

Connor urged each those with accusation - nary substance however tiny - to interaction the household oregon Police Scotland.

Thanking each those who person offered enactment truthful far, helium added: "At the extremity of the day, this is simply a 19-year-old boy.

"He's got a family, he's got friends that emotion and attraction astir him and we conscionable privation him location harmless now.

"And conscionable effort and enactment yourself successful our shoes. If this was you oregon your household subordinate oregon friend, I'm definite you would privation radical to travel guardant with accusation arsenic well."