The family of missing toddler Ben Needham is mourning another devastating loss after Ben’s grandfather, Eddie Needham, died at the age of 77—just one day before the 35th anniversary of his grandson’s disappearance.

For more than three decades, Eddie carried the weight of unanswered questions, never giving up hope that one day his family would finally learn what happened to Ben.

Now, he has passed away without the closure he spent the rest of his life searching for.

A Lifetime of Heartbreak

Ben’s mother, Kerry Needham, revealed that her father had recently told her he was exhausted after decades of living with uncertainty.

“He held on as long as he could,” Kerry said. “For 35 years he lived with this. He didn’t want to leave without knowing what happened to Ben.”

Although Eddie had recently recovered from cancer treatment, his health suddenly deteriorated while spending time with family, leaving loved ones shocked by his passing.

He Never Accepted One Theory

Throughout the investigation, Eddie remained convinced that there was more to Ben’s disappearance than an accident.

According to Kerry, her father never believed the long-discussed theory that Ben had died in a construction accident. Instead, he always believed his grandson had been abducted.

His belief never changed, even after years of investigations and searches.

Now, Kerry says losing her father has only strengthened her determination to continue searching for answers.

She says she wants to find the truth—not only for Ben, but also for the father who never stopped believing his grandson could still be found.

A Family Forever Changed

Ben disappeared on 24 July 1991, aged just 21 months, while visiting a farmhouse on the Greek island of Kos, where his grandparents had recently moved.

On the morning he vanished, Kerry had gone to work while Ben remained with his grandmother before visiting Eddie at the farmhouse, where renovation work was taking place nearby.

When family members realised Ben was missing later that day, an enormous search began—but no trace of the toddler was ever found.

The case quickly became one of Britain’s most well-known missing child investigations.

Living With Guilt

Friends and relatives say Eddie never forgave himself for encouraging Kerry to move to Greece with Ben.

Despite Kerry repeatedly telling him she never blamed him, Eddie reportedly carried that burden every day for the rest of his life.

During previous visits back to Kos, he openly spoke about the emotional pain he endured, describing recurring dreams in which Ben called out to him, begging to be found.

He also criticised the early investigation, believing crucial opportunities may have been missed in the frantic search for his grandson.

Still Searching for the Truth

Thirty-five years later, Ben Needham’s disappearance remains unsolved.

Investigators have explored multiple possibilities over the years, including the theory that Ben may have been killed in an accidental construction incident, but no definitive evidence has ever established exactly what happened.

Kerry says her family’s search is far from over.

Following her father’s death, she remains determined to keep fighting for answers—hoping that one day the truth will finally emerge and bring some measure of peace to a family that has spent more than three decades living with uncertainty.