An eyewitness who saw missing mum Gaynor Lord take off her coat and practise yoga in a park just moments before she went missing has said she seemed ‘calm’ but a ‘bit off’.
The search for Mrs Lord, 55, has been ongoing since she was last seen six days ago on CCTV heading towards Norwich Cathedral at around 2.45pm on Friday, after leaving her job at nearby Jarrold department store – but she never made it home.
Rosie Richards said she saw a woman matching Mrs Lord’s description at Wensum Park in Norwich last Friday afternoon, but said something seemed ‘a bit off’ as she practised a yoga pose in the late evening.
Ms Richards told Good Morning Britain: ‘To me she seemed quite calm. She was sort of putting her coat down on the floor and sort of performing a yoga pose. It just seemed a bit off at this time because obviously it was starting to get dark.
‘It’s really upsetting. I’m thinking of her friends and family because she is a similar age to my mum and that would be awful to be going through what they are going through now.’
CCTV footage was released earlier this week showing the last known movements of Mrs Lord, with a large smile on her face as she left her shift early.
In another clip filmed in the city centre, she was seen running along the path with her coat in her hand, before rushing to cross a road at a pedestrian crossing without waiting for the traffic lights to turn red, stopping in the middle of the road to avoid a passing car.
It’s also been revealed that detectives searching for Mrs Lord are consulting with Nicola Bulley cops to understand ‘lessons learned’ from their investigation.
Cops have said they believe Mrs Lord most likely entered the River Wensum in Norwich, after her belongings were found in different locations around the city park.
Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: ‘Gaynor left work early and didn’t take her normal route home. We haven’t been able to establish why she left early and her disappearance is out of character, so we are naturally concerned for her welfare.
2.44pm – Gaynor is working at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement at Jarrold department store
2.45-2.46pm – She leaves the store via the loading bay on Bedford Street
2.47pm – Walks onto London Street past the Cosy Club
2.48pm – Gaynor makes her way onto Queens Street and walks toward the Cathedral
3.22pm – Gaynor is seen on The Close at the cathedral entrance – shortly before exiting through the archway she puts her coat on
3.23pm – She is seen to walk away from the cathedral on Queens Street
3.49pm – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George’s Street
3.53pm – Walks along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street
4.01pm – Gaynor walks up St Augustines Street – her final movements captured in CCTV before going missing
‘There’s no evidence that Gaynor has come to harm and, while we have a number of enquiries ongoing, given where her clothing was found and other items, there is a real possibility she has entered the water.
‘We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who may have seen Gaynor in the cathedral grounds which she enters at 2.50pm and leaves at 3.23pm.
‘It’s not clear where she goes inside the cathedral grounds during this time so we’re keen to hear from anyone who may have seen her there.’
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