Troops in the army town of Tidworth have been deployed to assist police in a search for a missing soldier. Alex Cairnie was last seen leaving Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire at around 11am on Sunday, July 6.
Alex, who serves in the Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH), was believed to have been wearing a light-coloured T-shirt and black or grey trousers when he left the camp on foot. Concerns for his welfare were raised when he failed to return and he was reported missing to Wiltshire Police who have an urgent appeal for information and a major search. Soldiers from Tidworth camp, which is the home of thousands of troops and several regiments, have been deployed to the local area to assist the search on foot.
Photos show hundreds of soldiers in military uniform in the local area searching in groups alongside rescue workers.
Alex is described as approximately 5’7” tall, of athletic build, with mousy brown hair and a beard.
Wiltshire Search and Rescue teams were deployed to the Tidworth area on Monday morning for what they describe as a “high-risk missing person in the Tidworth area.”
Specialist teams have been deployed in and around the Tidworth area, supported by police dogs and drones equipped with thermal imaging technology to sweep local woodlands and open terrain.
Posters appealing for sightings have been distributed widely, urging anyone with immediate information to call 999 “no matter how small.”
A spokesperson for Wiltshire police said: “If you see him, or know of his whereabouts, please contact us on 999 quoting log 214 of today’s date.
Police will continue with their search throughout Tuesday for the soldier.
A police spokesperson added: “We are very concerned for his welfare.”
Tidworth camp houses thousands of soldiers from a range of Army regiments with troops from QRH and the Royal Fusiliers seen assisting authorities in the search.