Edinburgh tourist makes sad discovery during trip and boyfriend 'feels so guilty'
A couple who were on holiday in Edinburgh are appealing for help from locals after losing a treasured toy that's travelled the world with them.
Gracie Carter was in the capital with her boyfriend Jack, visiting museums and the Johnnie Walker experience on January 21. They were accompanied by a little elephant by the name of Derek, who was crocheted by Gracie with the help of her granny - who has since passed.
She gifted Derek to Jack when they first started dating. The elephant has been with them on trips to Paris, Malta, Canada, Tenerife, Sri Lanka - and now Edinburgh.
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Gracie says Derek must have fallen out of Jack's pocket as they walked around the city. Despite retracing their steps 'four or five' times, the couple are 'heartbroken' that they haven't managed to find him.
Jack feels 'incredibly guilty' to have been the one to lose him, and they're now doing whatever they can to track Derek down.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Gracie said: "My boyfriend Jack and I live in Plymouth, Devon, and came up to Edinburgh for the week to visit a friend and explore some of the city having never been to Scotland before.
"We went to a few museums, made Lego mini figures of ourselves, went on a tour of Johnnie Walker and went to Edinburgh Zoo. We brought our little elephant Derek, who I crocheted myself with the help of my Granny, who passed away a couple of years ago, soon after helping me make Derek.
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"I gave him to Jack as a present right when we first got together. Since Derek went with Jack and his family on holiday about a year and a half ago it's become tradition that he comes with either of us whenever we go away somewhere.
"Our favourite characteristic of his is the little patch of dust on his backside from sitting atop a mountain in Tenerife, that we both refuse to clean off. He's been to Tenerife, Sri Lanka, Paris, London, Malta, Canada and now Edinburgh."
The couple visited the National Museum of Scotland at around midday. They think Derek fell out of Jack's pocked between then and around 1pm, when they noticed he was missing.
Jack spoke to staff at the museum who said they would keep an eye out for him, but hadn't seen the elephant. They phoned the next morning and nothing had been handed in.
Gracie continued: "Derek is very special to and loved by the two of us and we're heartbroken that we couldn't find him, not to mention how guilty Jack feels at being the one to lose him.
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"Since that day I've posted in a multitude of Facebook groups asking people to share and hoping that someone will know what happened to Derek. I haven't actually mentioned to Jack that I've carried on the search, so that he doesn't get his hopes up and I can hopefully surprise him by bringing Derek home.
"I'm hoping that someone will have picked Derek up and will see one of my pleas, and hopefully be kind enough to get in touch with me so I can get my beloved Derek back."
If you've seen Derek or picked him up, get in touch and Edinburgh Live will let Gracie and Jack know - lee.dalgetty@reachplc.com