Ben Needham’s grandfather has sadly passed away just before the 35th anniversary of his grandson’s disappearance.
Kerry Needham, Ben’s mother who resides in Turkey, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, sharing that her father had expressed a strong desire to know the truth about Ben before his passing. Refusing to leave without closure, he battled with the torment of not knowing for 35 years. Kerry emphasized her father’s belief that Ben was abducted, not involved in an accident, and vowed to continue the quest for answers he longed for.
The heartbreaking news of her father’s death came on the day marking the anniversary of Ben’s disappearance from Kos. Ben went missing at 21 months old on July 24, 1991, while visiting his grandfather Eddie, who was refurbishing a farmhouse on the island at the time. Eddie, a 77-year-old former builder from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was a beloved grandparent and husband, having recently recovered from cancer treatment.
Describing her father as a resilient and dedicated family man with a sharp sense of humor and a serious demeanor when it came to Ben’s case, Kerry reflected on Eddie’s relentless efforts in searching for Ben, even sleeping on the beach to save expenses. Despite Kerry’s reassurances that she harbored no blame towards him or her mother, Eddie carried a heavy burden of guilt until his last moments.
Eddie and his wife Christine, enamored with Kos during their initial holiday in September 1990, made the life-changing decision to relocate from Sheffield to the idyllic island. The family’s dream of a blissful life in Greece turned tragic on the fateful day when Ben disappeared during a routine visit to Eddie’s renovation site.
Recalling the harrowing moments of Ben’s disappearance and the subsequent lack of a thorough investigation, Eddie expressed regret and self-blame, haunted by the unyielding guilt and the torment of not being able to locate his grandson. Kerry vowed to continue the search for answers, determined to find closure for her father and peace for her family.