PEOPLE living near the spot where a body believed to be that of Ricky Hill was found say police should have searched the area more thoroughly.
A body of a man was found in a wooded area off Balmoral Close, Littleover, near the Royal Derby Hospital, on Saturday.
A formal identification of the body is yet to take place but police believe it to be that of Ricky, 30, who went missing from the hospital on September 23. He had been admitted, suffering from depression.
Ricky's dad, Steven, of Somercotes, said he was angry with the authorities.
He added: "We were told by officers not to search that area because it had been done and that's why we didn't do it.
"If we'd searched it, we would have found him. I feel devastated.
"A lot of people have been heartbroken and we feel terrible."
Kiran Khaliq, who lives in Balmoral Close, said the area should have been searched more thoroughly for Ricky, who went missing on September 23.
She added: "Surely, they should have found his body sooner. They should have looked thoroughly around the hospital.
"This has all come as a shock. He was a missing patient and that is an empty patch of land – it should have been searched.
I think it's terrible that he was not found there sooner."
Garth Jones, also of Balmoral Close, said his thoughts were with Mr Hill's family.
He added: "When people disappear, they are often not that far away, and that is the case here.
"We were on holiday when he went missing but we've not seen any searches of that area since. It's possible he should have been found sooner.
"I can perfectly understand why his dad feels aggrieved – it must be a terrible anguish."
Ricky's dad said he wanted to appeal to other people suffering from depression to seek help.
He added: "Ricky was an ordinary young lad and he liked a drink and spending time with his family.
"But it seems that depression got the better of him. My message to anybody in that position is to please get help. Talk to your family or your doctor.
"I want to make sure people don't go through the same thing as Ricky. I'm 52 and I didn't realise how serious depression was. It's a silent disease."
A spokesman for the Royal Derby Hospital said bosses were going to meet Ricky's parents.
He also said the body was not found on ground owned by the hospital.
Dr Nigel Sturrock, medical director for Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has also pledged that hospital bosses will meet with Ricky's parents.
"While formal identification has yet to take place, we have completed a detailed investigation into the circumstances of Ricky Hill's departure from the ward on which he was staying," he remarked in a statement.
"We take the safety and welfare of our patients very seriously. However, patients are free to leave the hospital and we cannot deprive someone of their liberty.
"This is a tragic outcome to the situation and we offer our deepest sympathies to Mr Hill's family and friends.
"We understand this is a very difficult time for Mr Hill's parents and we have been in touch with them to offer our sincere condolences and to arrange to meet with them to discuss the care of their son."
A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: "There is a thorough review ongoing into the investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment further until the review is complete."
