Heartbroken father’s pain after missing teen found dead on bridge

A father has spoken of his heartbreak after a teenager was found dead on a busy bridge in Ipswich.

Joel Sousa, 18, is believed to have been fatally struck by a vehicle on the 1.2km-long Orwell Bridge carrying the A14 over the River Orwell.

He was last seen in an area of a hospital walking barefoot, sparking a manhunt in the early hours of Friday.

Minutes later, police were called by the ambulance service at 3.41am, to reports of a person walking in the westbound carriageway on the Orwell Bridge.

Emergency services attended and a man was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. The family of missing 18-year-old man Joel Sousa have been informed, police said.

His father announced his death on Facebook, saying: ‘How can I believe? How can I accept this?

‘How, tell me how? Please, a child, a baby, Joel Júnior Batista de Sousa, I don’t believe it son, I won’t believe, and if it’s true why not me, instead of you?’

‘It is wrong, no mother, no father, should bury their son. I don’t wish this pain, not even to my greatest enemy.’

Through tears he added: ‘I want to inform my family and friends of the greatest pain a parent can ever endure—a pain that the boy’s mother and I are currently experiencing.

‘Our son, Joel Júnior Batista de Sousa, passed away yesterday after being struck by a vehicle. As family and close friends, we have chosen to observe our period of mourning in silence. We send a big hug to everyone who has reached out to share in our grief and our loss.’

A Norfolk spokesperson said: ‘Emergency services attended and a man was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

‘Formal identification procedures have not yet taken place but the family of missing 18-year-old man Joel Sousa have been informed.

‘A file will be prepared for the coroner.

‘Officers are continuing to appeal for any witnesses and anyone with information in relation to the collision.’