An inquest opened today into the death of Harrogate woman Sophie Lambert, who went missing for five days in June.
Ms Lambert, 22, left her home in Starbeck on June 16. Hundreds of people took part in searches to find her.
North Yorkshire Police also launched a missing person search, which included helicopters, drones and dogs and was supported by mountain and underwater rescue teams.
Her body was found in the River Nidd near Lands Lane, Knaresborough, by a member of the public five days later.
Catherine Cundy, area coroner for North Yorkshire, opened an inquest into Ms Lambert’s death at a hearing in Northallerton this morning.
She confirmed Ms Lambert was certified dead on June 21, 2023.
Ms Cundy added that a provisional cause of death of “drowning by immersion in fresh water” has been reported.
The hearing was adjourned to a date to be confirmed when a full inquest will take place.
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White horses to carry Harrogate’s Sophie Lambert on her final journey
White horses decorated with purple will carry Harrogate’s Sophie Lambert on her final journey this week.
Sophie, 22, was found dead last month after a five-day missing person search that touched the lives of thousands of people in Harrogate and beyond.
Animal lover Sophie was particularly fond of horses and her big brother Craig Robinson has chosen two to pull a carriage carrying her body to Harrogate’s Stonefall Crematorium on Friday.
Her pet chihuahuas Boston and Bentley will wear jumpers saying ‘my mummy is in heaven’.
Sophie loved animals and had two dogs.
A crowdfunding appeal set up by Craig to give Sophie “the best send-off ever” has raised more than £3,700 — well above the £3,000 target.
He wrote on social media:
“Well, Soph, these beautiful horses are the ones I’ve picked for you with purple on there as well as you loved bright colours, these horses will bring you home one last time my angel.
“I hope I’ve done you proud and done everything to be perfect for you.”
The 40-minute service at 11am, which will be live-streamed, will be followed by drinks celebrating Sophie’s life at the Malt Shovel in Brearton.
The purple and white horses will match Sophie’s favourite colours.
There is no dress code but Craig has requested everyone wears odd socks because, as Craig puts it, “Sophie never did believe in wearing the same coloured socks as she said life was to short to match them”.
He has been setting of bio-degradeable lanterns this week in memory of Sophie, and said:
“I thank you all once again for the support help and donations you guys have given us in order to give Sophie the spend off she has always deserved. Rest easy Sophie my little Angel night night.”
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Fundraising appeal set up for Sophie Lambert’s funeral
The brother of Harrogate woman Sophie Lambert has set up a crowdfunding appeal for her funeral.
Sophie’s body was found in the River Nidd this week, five days after she wet missing from her home in Starbeck.
Hundreds of people took part in searches to find her.
Her older brother Craig Robinson launched a gofundme appeal yesterday to raise £3,000 to pay for ‘the best funeral for my sister Sophie’.
It was already over halfway towards its target last night.
Craig said Sophie was a bright girl who loved to laugh and had two dogs but had battled suffering every day for 10 years.
Craig shared this photo of his sister.
He added:
“This gofundme is for her funeral for us to be able to give her the best send off ever, please don’t feel pressured into donating as we have already set one up before for fuel and other resources,
“Sophie my little sister what can I say, you’ve grown your wings and flown away, I hope you’re safe up there.”
You can support the appeal here.
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Search for missing Sophie Lambert enters fifth night
Searches for missing Starbeck woman Sophie Lambert are continuing this evening, as her disappearance goes into a fifth night.
There has been no update from North Yorkshire Police since yesterday, but officers are still out around Nidd Gorge.
The area has been the focus for the search since the weekend, conducted by North Yorkshire Police officers alongside mountain and underwater rescue crews.
Members of the public are also covering as much ground as possible to try to find the 22-year-old.
Sophie’s family has also asked the community to get involved in the search and has invited people to meet at Conyngham Hall car park at 6pm today. From there, people will go out in groups to continue searching into the evening.
Those helping with the efforts have been posting the routes they have taken in a Facebook group dedicated to the search for Sophie, which now has more than 1,600 members.
Anyone who sees Sophie is urged to call 999 and speak to North Yorkshire Police, quoting reference 12230110845.
Meanwhile, posters have been put up across Harrogate and Knaresborough asking people to look for her.
Mountain rescue organisations have also been involved in the search
Sophie left home around 6.50pm on Friday evening and was seen 15 minutes later on CCTV, but has not been seen since.
However, police revealed yesterday that her mobile phone, bank card and top had been found by a member of the public near the river at Nidd Gorge in Bilton on Saturday morning.
At a press conference in the area yesterday afternoon, critical incident inspector Graham Waller said:
“We are very concerned for Sophie’s welfare.
“It’s totally out of character for her to be away from home for this long.
“At the moment we don’t have any suggestion she has come to harm but we are keeping an open mind.”
An appeal video was posted by North Yorkshire Police yesterday evening
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Posters go up as search for missing Sophie continues
Hundreds of posters have gone up around Harrogate and Knaresborough in the search for missing Sophie Lambert.
Four nights have now passed since Sophie, 22, was last seen at her home in Starbeck.
The police search is focusing on the area near the river at Bilton in Nidd Gorge after a member of the public found Sophie’s mobile phone, bank card and jumper there on Saturday morning.
Sophie was last seen on Friday night.
A Facebook group to co-ordinate the search has been set up and already has over 1,000 members. You can visit it here.
Knaresborough printers Sid Horner and Son printed 1,000 posters yesterday showing a photo of Sophie and urging people to report any sightings.
Inspector Graham Waller, the critical incident inspector based at Harrogate, said yesterday there had been “no positive sightings” of Sophie since she vanished and nothing has emerged overnight.
Numerous groups took part in searches along the river and around the Bilton area last night and are continuing to do so this morning.
North Yorkshire Police has said in a statement:
“Sophie is described as white, 5ft 3in, aged in her early 20s, slim build, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.
“She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.
“It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms and has dark green Adidas trainers with a white sole.
“If you have seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph, please call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.”
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Search for missing Sophie Lambert finds her mobile phone
A mobile phone, bank card and a top belonging to missing Sophie Lambert have been found, police said today.
The possessions were discovered by a member of the public on Saturday morning near the river at Nidd Gorge, which is the focus of the search for the 22-year-old from Starbeck.
North Yorkshire Police revealed the news at a media call today, at which they said a 30-strong search party consisting of police, mountain and underwater rescues had been combing the 500-metres area around where the items were found in Bilton.
Sophie Lambert
They added helicopters and dogs had also been employed in the operation.
Inspector Graham Waller, the critical incident inspector based at Harrogate, said there had been “no positive sightings” of Sophie in the 72 hours since she disappeared.
Insp Graham Waller pictured at the police search scene today.
He added the search would widen and continue “as long as necessary” during daylight hours if Sophie is not found. He said:
“We are very concerned for Sophie’s welfare.
“It’s totally out of character for her to be away from home for this long.
“At the moment we don’t have any suggestion she has come to harm but we are keeping an open mind.”
Asked what people could do to help, and whether they should take part in search parties, Insp Waller urged people to “remain vigilant” and contact the police if they had any information but said he would “discourage” members of the public taking part in search parties because of the “difficult terrain” in Nidd Gorge.
In today’s update, police said Sophie was last seen at home by her family at 6.50pm on Friday night and then captured shortly afterwards on CCTV camera at 7.06pm.
She was wearing dark trousers, a black top with a white adidas logo and dark shoes with a white sole. She had her hair tied back and was carrying a bottle with a pink lid.
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Police issue urgent appeal to find missing Harrogate woman
North Yorkshire Police has issued an urgent appealing for help finding a missing woman from Harrogate.
Sophie Rebecca Lambert, 22, was reported missing from her home in Starbeck at 10.10pm last night.
Sophie was last seen by her family at 7.20pm before she left the house.
A police statement this afternoon said:
“Concerns are growing for her welfare and extensive police searches are currently taking place in the Nidd Gorge area with assistance from search and rescue.”
Sophie went missing last night.
Sophie is described as white, aged in her early 20s, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.
She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.
It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms.
Police urged anyone who has seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph to call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.
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