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Funeral for missing Liam Graham, last seen in Stoke Road between Lower Stoke and Hoo, announced

15:23, 09 January 2024

updated: 16:45, 15 January 2024

The funeral for a man who was discovered in the North Sea after he went missing following a crash in Kent has been announced.

Liam Graham’s family has confirmed he’s being laid to rest at Thames View Crematorium in Gravesend, five months after he was first found.

Liam Graham went missing in July
Liam Graham went missing in July

The 22-year-old, of Heron Way in Lower Stoke, was last seen walking away from a car accident in a video taken in the early hours of Saturday, July 22, in Stoke Road, between his home village and Hoo.

His family and friends spent hours scouring the area where he was last seen.

The search spanned almost four months with seemingly no trace of him.

On Saturday, October 7, a wallet belonging to Liam was found on farmland.

However, a month later, on November 8, Kent Police confirmed a body recovered in the Netherlands was identified as belonging to Liam.

Officers searching for Liam Graham last year. Picture: Kent Police
Officers searching for Liam Graham last year. Picture: Kent Police

In a post on the social media page set up to help find her son, Liam’s mum Joanna Graham confirmed he was found by the Dutch authorities in September, around two months after his car accident.

At an inquest opening held yesterday (Monday, January 8), assistant coroner, Catherine Wood, confirmed he’d been discovered off the coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea on September 14.

The coroner stated that Liam’s cause of death is unknown, and as a result, a full inquest will be held on Tuesday, March 26.

Today, in a post on the Search for Liam group, his family announced his funeral will be held on Friday, February 2, at 2pm.

They said: “We would like to invite you to join us to celebrate Liam’s life. We will be leaving Liam’s mum's home address at 1.10pm.

Liam Graham, 22, was last seen just before 1am in Stoke Road, between Lower Stoke and Hoo in July 2023. Picture: Kent Police
Liam Graham, 22, was last seen just before 1am in Stoke Road, between Lower Stoke and Hoo in July 2023. Picture: Kent Police

“This will be followed by a wake at Stoke Airfield, ME3 9RN.”

Those who would like to attend are being asked to comment on the post, so Liam’s family is aware of numbers.

Liam’s sister, Holly, said: “Liam was a very kind-hearted, caring, and an all-round beautiful person.

“He had a heart of gold and would help anybody who needed it.

“We as a family, miss him terribly and are just relieved to be able to finally put him to rest.

Liam Graham was found in September
Liam Graham was found in September

“Thank you to our wonderful community for all of the support during this entire time.

“We appreciate every share of posts and posters, every donation, every person who searched for him with us and followed our journey.

“Liam's funeral will be a celebration, so please come and join us if you can.”

The family is asking for immediate family to be wearing black and everyone else to be wearing colours.

Flower donations are to be dropped off at Hawden and Burgess, ME3 9DT before 11am on the morning of the funeral.

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