An Open Question: How a Promising Cameraman Vanished from the Clifton District
The disappearance and death of Joseph Day remains one of Bristol’s most haunting unsolved mysteries. A talented cameraman from New Zealand, the 31-year-old vanished from his home in the upscale Clifton area on the evening of 30 April 2022, only for his body to be discovered five days later in Bristol’s Avon Gorge. Despite a full coroner’s inquest and extensive police investigation, no one knows exactly what happened to him on that fateful Saturday night. The case continues to perplex those who knew him, the authorities who investigated it, and the broader community that watched the tragedy unfold.
Day’s story is not merely about a missing person or a tragic accident. It represents the fragility of life, the confusion surrounding mental health perceptions, and questions about how missing person investigations are handled in the early, critical hours. His death prompted discussions about police response procedures and the importance of taking initial reports seriously, irrespective of a person’s risk assessment category.
Who Was Joseph Day? A Life of Creative Promise
Joseph Day was no ordinary cameraman. Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, he had built an impressive career at TVNZ, one of Aotearoa’s most prestigious broadcasting networks. For over ten years, he contributed his creative eye and technical expertise to New Zealand television. His work included coverage of major national events, including the Christchurch terror attack in 2019, demonstrating his professional dedication and resilience.
What colleagues remembered most vividly was not just his technical skill, but his character. At TVNZ’s Breakfast programme, where Day worked countless early morning shifts, hosts Matty McLean and Jenny-May Clarkson described him as a “beautiful soul” who brought “quiet confidence and calmness” to the high-pressure environment of live television. He followed in his father’s footsteps into television, creating a family legacy within the newsroom. Both were deeply respected within the TVNZ whānau, or extended family.
Day was also creative beyond the studio. He maintained a daily practice of journalling and meditation, exercised regularly, and held strong personal values. Those close to him consistently described him as kind, gentle, empathetic, generous, and humble. Yet despite these positive attributes, he made the decision to relocate to the United Kingdom in January 2022.
The Move to Bristol: A Fresh Start
In the new year of 2022, Joseph Day and his long-term fiancée Kelsey Mulcahy relocated to Bristol. They settled in Pembroke Road, in the respectable Clifton neighbourhood, known for its Georgian architecture and affluent residents. The move represented a fresh chapter. Day had transitioned from his established career in New Zealand to construction work in Bristol, suggesting he was exploring new opportunities or perhaps taking a break from the intensity of broadcast journalism.
For the couple, it was an exciting time. They were planning their wedding for September 2022 and had travelled to London together just days before Day’s disappearance. By all accounts, their relationship was strong. In messages exchanged with family and friends, Day reported that everything was “all sweet,” a phrase that would later take on heartbreaking significance given what followed.
The Night of 30 April 2022: The Beginning of Mystery
On Saturday, 30 April 2022, Kelsey Mulcahy decided to visit London for the day with friends. Before leaving the flat, she and Joseph exchanged messages. She asked him to close the blackout blinds, and his reply was simple and practical: “will do.” Those would be the last words Joseph Day would ever type.
That evening, Mulcahy attempted to contact her partner. She became increasingly concerned when he stopped responding to her messages around 21:30 BST. This lack of response was profoundly out of character. Day was someone who maintained constant contact with those closest to him. His fiancée knew immediately that something was wrong.
When Mulcahy returned to their flat the following morning on Sunday, 1 May, she discovered a scene that deepened her alarm. Joseph’s work clothes hung neatly, as if waiting for him. Their bed remained unmade. A HelloFresh food delivery sat abandoned by the door. Most tellingly, his phone, wallet, and keys were all missing. Joseph had apparently left the flat at some point after Mulcahy’s last contact with him, but he had not returned.
Alarmed, Mulcahy contacted Avon and Somerset Police to report her partner missing. She explained that his behaviour was entirely inconsistent with his nature, that he was devoted to her, and that he had given no indication of any problems or distress. The police response, however, would become a point of considerable frustration for both Mulcahy and Day’s family.
The Investigation Begins: A Slow Response
Upon Mulcahy’s report, Avon and Somerset Police classified Day as a “low risk” missing person. This assessment would later become controversial. Despite the fiancée’s urgent pleas and the clear indicators that Day’s disappearance was unusual, the police did not immediately prioritise the search. Mulcahy later expressed her frustration with this response, stating that officers “didn’t want to prioritise it” and that genuine urgency only emerged after the media began showing interest in the case.
On Monday, 2 May, police officially launched their search. Friends and family began distributing flyers throughout Bristol’s Clifton district. Online appeals were shared widely across social media platforms. The images showed a man with dark hair, athletic build, and distinctive sleeve tattoos on both forearms. He was believed to be wearing black high-top Nike trainers, a long black wax jacket, and a blue Seattle Mariners baseball cap.
The description circulated rapidly within the Bristol community and beyond. TVNZ colleagues in New Zealand began sharing the appeal on their social networks. Day’s story began to gain international attention, drawing concern from New Zealand and the United Kingdom alike.
The Discovery: Body Found in Avon Gorge
On the early morning of Tuesday, 3 May—just three days after Day’s last contact with his fiancée—police received a significant breakthrough. Searchers heard a phone ringing at the bottom of Bristol’s Avon Gorge. The location was remote and difficult to access: approximately thirty metres down a steep cliffside, surrounded by thick undergrowth and bushes.
Officers descended the treacherous terrain and made a tragic discovery. The body of a man matching Joseph Day’s description lay at the base of the gorge. Formal identification had not yet taken place, but police updated Day’s family with the grim news.
The tragic irony of timing struck Day’s family with devastating force. They were in the process of boarding a flight from Auckland, New Zealand, intent on joining the search in person. By the time they received word that a body had been found, they were already airborne, unable to turn back.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service deployed specialist rope rescue teams to recover Day’s body safely from the dangerous location. The recovery operation was complex and required trained personnel and specialist equipment. Once recovered, Day’s body was conveyed to the coroner’s office for examination.
Understanding the Scene: The Clifton Observatory Location
The location where Joseph Day was found held particular significance. Avon Gorge is one of Bristol’s most iconic natural features, carved by the River Avon over millennia. It rises dramatically from the city centre, its steep sides lined with vegetation and natural rock formations. Near the top of the gorge stands Clifton Observatory, an eighteenth-century structure that offers panoramic views across Bristol and beyond.
Detective Superintendent James Cassidy, the lead officer on the morning Day’s body was discovered, revealed that the ledge where Day was found is accessible to the public via a marked path near the Observatory. This ledge commands “the clearest and most uninterrupted view” of the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Visitors frequently walk to this vantage point to photograph and admire the suspension bridge.
Whether Joseph Day had climbed onto this particular ledge to enjoy the view, or for some other reason, would never be established. The exact location and circumstances of how he came to fall remained shrouded in mystery.
The Post-Mortem Examination: Establishing the Medical Facts
Following recovery of the body, a post-mortem examination was conducted to determine the medical cause of death. The pathologist concluded that Joseph Day had sustained multiple injuries consistent with a fall from a significant height. The injuries were catastrophic and immediately fatal, indicating that Day died at or near the time of his fall.
A toxicology report was also completed. This analysis, which examines blood and other bodily tissues for the presence of drugs, alcohol, or poisons, revealed “no significant findings.” This result was crucial in ruling out certain possibilities. Day had not consumed large quantities of alcohol. There was no evidence of drug use. No poison was detected. The toxicology was essentially clear.
This finding added to the mystery rather than resolving it. Without the presence of intoxicating substances, there was no obvious medical explanation for how a fit, healthy man might accidentally fall from a public viewpoint. Yet the post-mortem could not determine whether Day had fallen, jumped, or been pushed. These distinctions would become central to the later inquest proceedings.
The Inquest: Seeking Answers at Avon Coroner’s Court
On 26 May 2022, Avon Coroner’s Court formally opened an inquest into Joseph Day’s death. Senior Coroner Maria Voisin presided over the proceedings. The inquest process is designed to establish how a person came by their death and in what circumstances. It is not a criminal trial, and the coroner is not tasked with assigning blame. Rather, the inquest seeks to establish the facts and record a formal conclusion.
The initial hearing on 26 May was brief and formal. Details were established, evidence referenced, and the inquest was adjourned pending a full hearing. Avon and Somerset Police indicated they would continue investigations on behalf of the coroner.
The full inquest hearing took place on 4 August 2022, more than three months after Day’s body was discovered. This hearing would provide the most detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding his death.
The August Inquest: Kelsey’s Emotional Account
During the August 2022 inquest hearing, evidence was presented from multiple witnesses. Most poignantly, a statement from Kelsey Mulcahy was read aloud to the court. Mulcahy described her late partner in deeply personal terms. She characterised him as a “kind, gentle, and incredibly handsome” man who “loved life.”
Mulcahy explained the final hours she spent in contact with Joseph. She had been in London with friends on the day he went missing. Joseph had told her he would simply “chill at home” until she returned, at which point they planned to visit Bath together. They had exchanged casual messages throughout the day and early evening, with no indication of any crisis or distress.
The sudden cessation of communication around 21:30 BST struck Mulcahy as ominous. She knew Joseph well enough to understand that this silence was profoundly abnormal. He was someone who constantly maintained contact with those he cared about. His family similarly emphasised this point: Joseph was “always someone who kept in touch” and the family “talked very openly” with one another.
Mulcahy described discovering the empty flat the following morning with mounting dread. The unmade bed, the clothes hanging unused, the unopened food delivery at the door—all suggested Joseph had never settled at home that evening. Something had drawn him out, and he had not returned.
Addressing Speculation: Mental Health and Suicide
Throughout the investigation and inquest, speculation arose regarding the possibility of suicide. This possibility was discussed openly in some quarters, contributing to distress for those who knew Joseph best. However, Mulcahy and Joseph’s family were emphatic in rejecting this explanation.
In her inquest statement, Mulcahy stated firmly: “From the moment the police gave me the news, I never once thought that Joseph did this to himself, not even later in my grief.”
She explained that Joseph maintained daily practices of journalling and meditation. He exercised regularly and was consciously committed to self-improvement. Most tellingly, when Mulcahy received Joseph’s personal journal back from police—who had retained it as part of their investigation and apparently suspected it might contain a suicide note—she discovered that one of his final entries read: “I am the happiest I have ever been.”
Joseph’s family similarly emphasised his mental wellbeing. His mother had texted him the day before his disappearance, asking how life was progressing in Bristol. Joseph’s reply was uncomplicated and positive: “All sweet, mum.” This straightforward response offered no hint of any underlying turmoil or psychological crisis.
The available evidence suggested a young man genuinely happy with his life, his relationship, his circumstances, and his future. Joseph had been looking forward to marrying Kelsey in September. He was exploring new opportunities in the UK. His journals revealed contentment rather than despair.
The Police Response: Questions and Criticism
Kelsey Mulcahy did not restrict her inquest statement to describing the circumstances of Joseph’s death. She also addressed what she perceived as inadequacies in the police response to her initial report. Her criticism was significant and pointed.
Mulcahy explained that she was deeply frustrated to discover that Avon and Somerset Police had not immediately prioritised the search for her partner. Because Joseph had been classified as “low risk,” the urgency appropriate to his disappearance was apparently withheld. Mulcahy stated: “It was obvious that the police didn’t want to prioritise it. That only came after the media started to show interest.”
This criticism highlighted a broader issue within missing person investigations. Risk assessment procedures, while well-intentioned, can sometimes mask the complexity of individual circumstances. Joseph was 31 years old, living as an adult with his fiancée, and had no previous history of disappearing unexpectedly. These factors may have contributed to a “low risk” classification. Yet his fiancée’s immediate knowledge that his disappearance was profoundly out of character was not heeded initially.
Only when media interest prompted police to take the case more seriously did the full weight of investigative resources swing behind finding Joseph. Had such resources been deployed immediately, it is impossible to know whether a different outcome might have resulted. However, the five days between his disappearance and discovery—during which more urgent investigation might have been ongoing—represented a significant window.
The Investigation’s Conclusion: What Was Ruled Out
The police investigation into Joseph Day’s death established several important facts. Most significantly, the investigation determined that his death was “not suspicious” and that there was “no evidence of foul play.” This conclusion meant that no third party was believed to have been involved in causing his death. There was no evidence of violence, no witnesses to a confrontation, no indications of criminal involvement.
The investigation ruled out that Joseph had been attacked, assaulted, or murdered. His death appeared to be entirely personal—relating only to his own actions or a tragic accident.
The toxicology results further limited possible explanations. The absence of intoxicating substances meant his judgment was likely not impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of his death. He had not overdosed. He had not been poisoned. His body bore only the injuries consistent with a fall from height.
The Inquest Conclusion: An Open Question Remains
After hearing all available evidence, Senior Coroner Maria Voisin faced a fundamental question: what conclusion should be recorded regarding how Joseph Day came by his death? Under coroner’s law, several conclusions are possible: accidental death, suicide, misadventure, or an open conclusion when evidence is insufficient to support any of these categories.
Voisin chose to record an open conclusion.
She explained her reasoning: “To record a conclusion of accidental death or suicide would be speculative due to limited evidence.” She noted that the exact date Joseph Day died and precisely how he died remained unknown. While the post-mortem established that multiple injuries from a fall caused death, the circumstances surrounding that fall could not be definitively determined from available evidence.
This open conclusion meant that the question of how Joseph came to fall remained unanswered. Did he slip? Did he intentionally jump? Did he lose his footing while simply walking along the public path? Was it a tragic accident? The legal record offered no definitive answer.
For Kelsey and Joseph’s family, an open conclusion may have felt like an absence of closure. They had maintained consistently that his death was a “terrible accident,” and they were not provided the formal, legal confirmation of that belief that an “accidental death” conclusion would have offered.
The Impact on Kelsey Mulcahy and Joseph’s Family
The personal cost of Joseph’s death was immeasurable. Kelsey Mulcahy lost her soulmate and fiancé, a wedding planned for September transformed into an unimaginable tragedy instead. The couple had shared only a handful of months in their Bristol flat before Joseph disappeared.
Joseph’s family, based in New Zealand, endured the agony of learning that their son had died in a foreign country while they were en route to search for him. They bore the expense and emotional burden of repatriating his body across the world to Auckland for burial.
The international community that knew Joseph—his colleagues at TVNZ, his extended family, friends across New Zealand and the United Kingdom—grieved a talented young man whose life had been cut devastatingly short.
Fundraising and Community Response
The tragedy catalysed an outpouring of compassion. A Givealittle fundraising campaign was established to support Joseph’s family and facilitate the repatriation of his body to New Zealand. The campaign ultimately raised over $108,000 NZD, with nearly 2,000 individual donations pouring in from across New Zealand and further afield.
This financial support acknowledged Joseph’s significance within his professional community and beyond. TVNZ colleagues contributed. Former friends from university contributed. People who had never met Joseph but were moved by his story and by the dignity demonstrated by his fiancée and family contributed.
A celebration of Joseph’s life was held at Auckland Town Hall on 26 May 2022, gathering family and friends to honour his memory and mark his passing.
Lessons from the Joseph Day Case
The tragedy of Joseph Day’s death prompted reflection on several important issues within British policing and coroner’s procedures. The initial police response, which classified him as “low risk” despite his fiancée’s urgent concerns, highlighted the need for more nuanced risk assessment in the early stages of missing person investigations.
Missing person cases require careful calibration. Resources are finite, and not every person reported missing is in genuine danger. Yet the first hours and days of a disappearance are often the most critical. When someone close to a missing person reports that their behaviour is profoundly out of character, this information should carry substantial weight. Kelsey Mulcahy knew Joseph intimately, and her assessment that his disappearance was extraordinary proved tragically accurate.
The case also illustrated the limitations of investigation and coroner’s inquests in establishing definitive conclusions when physical evidence is incomplete. Despite a thorough post-mortem, toxicology analysis, and police investigation, the exact circumstances of Joseph Day’s death could never be established beyond reasonable doubt. An open conclusion was the only honest recording the coroner could make.
Remembering Joseph Day
Joseph Day is remembered by those who knew him as a talented cameraman whose creative eye elevated the stories he helped tell. His colleagues at TVNZ speak of his “quiet confidence and calmness” during the high-pressure environment of live television. His family recalls a devoted son who stayed in touch and shared his life with those he loved.
His fiancée Kelsey Mulcahy has written that Joseph was “committed to becoming a better version of yourself every single day.” That commitment extended to his professional work, his personal development, and his devotion to those closest to him.
The mystery of exactly how Joseph came to fall into Avon Gorge on the night of 30 April 2022 remains unresolved. No investigation has provided complete answers. No coroner’s conclusion has offered the finality that might help those who loved him move forward with certainty.
What is certain is that Joseph Day was a young man of genuine worth whose life ended far too early, under circumstances that remain frustratingly opaque despite the best efforts of police, emergency services, and the coroner’s court.
A City’s Tragedy
Bristol’s Avon Gorge continues to draw visitors who marvel at its geological grandeur and the engineering triumph of Clifton Suspension Bridge. Yet for those who knew Joseph Day, the gorge carries a different meaning. It is the place where a promising life ended in circumstances that defy complete understanding.
The case of Joseph Day serves as a sombre reminder of life’s fragility and the ways in which tragedy can strike without warning. It underscores the importance of taking missing person reports seriously from the earliest moment. It demonstrates the limitations of investigation when circumstances are genuinely opaque.
Most of all, it reminds us that behind every news story, every statistic, every case file lies a human being whose absence is felt deeply by those who loved them. Joseph Day’s death altered the lives of his family forever, scattered across continents but united in grief and in the unanswered questions that his death left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who Was Joseph Day?
Joseph Day was a 31-year-old New Zealand native and experienced television cameraman who had worked for TVNZ for more than a decade. He was skilled, respected in his profession, and known for his gentle and kind nature. He relocated to Bristol, England, in January 2022 with his fiancée Kelsey Mulcahy and was working in construction at the time of his disappearance.
2. What Exactly Happened to Joseph Day?
Joseph Day went missing from his home in Clifton, Bristol, on the evening of 30 April 2022. His body was discovered on 3 May 2022 in Avon Gorge, approximately 30 metres down a cliffside near Clifton Observatory. A post-mortem examination determined he died from multiple injuries sustained in a fall. However, the exact circumstances of how he came to fall remain unknown, and a coroner’s inquest concluded with an open verdict rather than a definitive determination of accidental death or suicide.
3. Was Joseph Day’s Death Investigated as a Crime?
No. Avon and Somerset Police investigation concluded that Joseph Day’s death was not suspicious and that there was no evidence of foul play. No third party was believed to be involved in causing his death. The investigation classified it as a non-criminal death, though the circumstances remained unclear.
4. Why Did the Coroner Record an Open Conclusion?
Senior Coroner Maria Voisin recorded an open conclusion because available evidence was insufficient to definitively support a conclusion of accidental death or suicide. While the post-mortem established that multiple injuries from a fall caused death, the circumstances surrounding that fall—whether accidental, intentional, or some other explanation—could not be determined beyond reasonable doubt based on available evidence.
5. What Questions Remain Unanswered About Joseph Day’s Death?
Several fundamental questions remain unanswered. Did Joseph Day slip and accidentally fall whilst walking near the public viewpoint? Did he intentionally jump from the ledge? Was he attempting to access a more dangerous part of the gorge for some reason when he fell? The exact date and time of his death is also not known with certainty. These questions likely will never be answered with complete certainty given the information available to investigators and the coroner’s court.
Related Articles and Further Reading
For more UK-focused stories and trending news, explore these recommended resources:
- Bristol Chronicle EFL League Two Coverage – Stay updated on Bristol City’s football performance and local sports news
- Bristol World Local News – Comprehensive coverage of Bristol news, events, and community stories
- BBC News – Breaking news and in-depth reporting from across the United Kingdom
- UK Government Official Information – Access to official government services, policies, and public information
- BBC West – Bristol and Local Coverage – Dedicated reporting on Bristol, Bath, and the South West region
- Avon and Somerset Police – Official police information and crime reporting for the local area