UK Student Missing: £100k Reward Offered for Information
UK Student Missing: £100k Reward Offered for Information
A desperate search is intensifying for a UK student who vanished during a hiking trip over the weekend, prompting his family to offer a staggering £100,000 reward for any information that leads to his safe return. The case has gripped the nation, with authorities and volunteers combing a vast, rugged area in a race against time.
Liam Kennedy, a 20-year-old engineering student at the University of Bristol, was last seen on Saturday morning. His disappearance has sparked a massive response, and the substantial reward underscores the family’s anguish and determination to find him.
In This Article:
The Disappearance of the UK Student
Liam Kennedy, described by friends as an experienced and well-prepared hiker, set off for a solo day-hike in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales on Saturday, September 6, 2025. He sent a text message to his flatmate at approximately 9:30 AM that morning, including a photo from the Pen y Fan summit with the caption, “Made it to the top! Weather is turning, heading back down now.”
That was the last anyone heard from him. He was reported missing on Sunday evening when he failed to return to his student accommodation in Bristol and did not respond to numerous calls and messages. His car, a silver Ford Fiesta, was later found by police in the Pont ar Daf car park, a popular starting point for hikers in the area.
Authorities have confirmed that while Liam was a keen outdoorsman, the weather in the national park deteriorated rapidly on Saturday afternoon, with heavy rain and dense fog reducing visibility significantly. Chief Inspector Davies of Dyfed-Powys Police stated, “The conditions on Saturday were extremely challenging, even for seasoned hikers. We are exploring every possibility, including that Mr. Kennedy may have become disoriented or sought shelter from the elements.”
Massive Search Effort Underway
The search operation for the missing UK student is one of the largest seen in the region in recent years. It involves multiple agencies, including the Dyfed-Powys Police, the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, and RAF search and rescue helicopters equipped with thermal imaging cameras.
Search teams are focusing on the primary paths leading to and from Pen y Fan, as well as more treacherous, less-travelled routes that Liam might have taken. Drones are also being deployed to scan difficult-to-reach gullies and wooded areas. Volunteers from local hiking clubs have joined the effort, coordinating with police to ensure the search is conducted safely and systematically.
“The community response has been incredible,” said Mark Jones, leader of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team. “We have dozens of highly skilled volunteers on the ground, all dedicated to one goal: bringing Liam home. We are asking the public to stay away from the immediate search area to allow our teams to work unimpeded but to report any information, no matter how small.”
Read more about ongoing local efforts in our UK News category.
Family Announces £100,000 Reward
In a heart-wrenching press conference on Tuesday, Liam Kennedy’s family announced a £100,000 reward for information. Flanked by police liaisons, his mother, Sarah Kennedy, made a tearful plea for help.
“Liam is our world,” she said, her voice trembling. “He is a kind, intelligent, and adventurous young man with his whole life ahead of him. Not knowing where he is, is a torment no parent should endure. We are begging anyone who might have seen something on Saturday to come forward.”
His father, David Kennedy, added, “This reward is for any concrete information that directly leads us to finding Liam. Maybe you were hiking and saw someone matching his description. Maybe you have dash-cam footage from the A470 near the park entrance. Please, check your cameras, check your memory. Your information could be the key to ending this nightmare.”
The family has specified that the reward is for information leading to his location and safe return, and they have urged the public to contact the police directly with any tips.
Who is Liam Kennedy?
Liam Kennedy is a second-year student pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. Originally from Manchester, he is known for his academic diligence and his passion for the outdoors. Friends describe him as quiet but warm, with a dry sense of humour.
He is an avid member of the university’s hiking society and has completed numerous challenging treks across the UK. Police have released a description of Liam: he is 5’11” (180cm) tall, of a slim build, with short brown hair and blue eyes. He was believed to be wearing a dark blue waterproof jacket, black hiking trousers, and carrying a grey-and-black Osprey backpack.
The university has offered support services to students affected by his disappearance, describing Liam as a “bright and valued member of our community.”
How You Can Help Find the Missing UK Student
The public’s role is critical in the search for Liam. Authorities are urging anyone who was in the Brecon Beacons National Park, particularly in the Pen y Fan area, on Saturday, September 6th, to come forward.
- Contact Police: If you have any information, please contact Dyfed-Powys Police by calling 101 and quoting reference number DP-20250907-0352.
- Check Your Footage: If you have a dash-cam and were driving on the A470 or surrounding roads on Saturday, please check your footage for any sign of Liam or his vehicle.
- Share Information: Share official police appeals on social media to widen the reach of the search.
- Support Official Channels: For further information on how to help in missing person cases, you can visit the website for the charity Missing People.
The family and police stress that even the smallest detail could prove vital. A fleeting glimpse of a hiker matching Liam’s description or a piece of discarded equipment could provide the breakthrough this investigation desperately needs.
As the search continues into another day, a community holds its breath, hoping for the safe return of a beloved son, friend, and promising young uk student. The significant reward offered is a testament to the family’s unwavering hope and their plea for public assistance in bringing their son home.
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