Parents' 'living hell' over missing soldier son

The parents of a missing soldier have said each day is "a living hell" as they made a fresh appeal for information on the three-month anniversary of his disappearance.

L/Cpl Ryan Rudd, 28, was last seen in the early hours of 15 February on a night out at the New Inn in Selby, but did not return to his barracks at Catterick Garrison.

Ken and Kerstin Rudd, from Pocklington, said: "It's like having a sword rammed in your gut every day. It's just horrible."

Kerstin added: "It would mean the world if we could get some answers, because we just don't know what happened. It's just endless thinking about it."

The serving soldier was not reported missing until 1 March, and there was a two-week delay before the Army realised he was not on the base. When his parents were contacted by a senior officer, they told him they had assumed the Ryan returned to Catterick as planned.

Kerstin said: "We don't understand what happened on the night.

"Anyone who knows Selby, who knows the Millgate area, they know that there's not a lot around there."

Addressing North Yorkshire Police's theory that her son could have entered the River Ouse, she added: "The river is well protected, it's got a decent wall around it, so it's not easy to get into, so we don't understand that part of it.

"Every day is waiting for a phone call that never comes.

"Because we don't know what happened, we still have that little bit of hope that he's still out there, that he's still alive, that he could be somewhere, but it's three months now.

"Anyone who knows anything, please contact the police with any little bit of information you might have, any sightings, even if you just said hello to him.

"It was Valentine's night, so it's a night to remember, and nobody just disappears like that, not for three months."

North Yorkshire Police have previously said officers remained "open minded" about his disappearance, but added "we must accept the possibility that Ryan has entered the River Ouse".

A previous statement from the Army said: "We can confirm that Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd was reported missing to North Yorkshire Police on 1 March 2026.

"An investigation is under way and we are working with North Yorkshire Police who are leading this. We are unable to offer further detail at this time."

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