Man who faked death found alive

A FATHER-OF-THREE who faked his own death because he believed he was suffering from cancer and a mental illness has been found alive and well, it emerged yesterday.

Graham Cardwell, 46, assistant dockmaster at Immingham Docks, in North Lincolnshire, vanished eight months ago at the end of a night shift. The discovery of his belongings on mudflats by the River Humber prompted a massive air and sea search which concluded that he had been swept out to sea while carrying out checks on the jetty. He was given up for dead, although no body was found.

On Saturday, however, police received a tip-off which led them to Mr Cardwell, who is living in the Midlands. A police spokesman said: "He has set up a new life, living on his own under an assumed name."

Police have informed his wife, Jane Cardwell, 45, who lives at the family home in Grimsby with their three children.

Humberside Police have decided not to prosecute Mr Cardwell, a former Grimsby Conservative councillor.

"He said he believed he had cancer and didn't want to put his family through the anguish of that," said a spokesman. "But he says he does not want his new address to be divulged and we have to respect that. A family reunion is not expected for the foreseeable future."