Weekender Alicante North Issue 109

14 FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
www.weekender.news
Local&WhatsOn
Benidorm
British pensioner
missing in Benidorm
CONCERNED relatives of
a British grandfather, who
went missing in Benidorm
more than a week ago, have
flown to Spain to co-ordinate
a search operation.
Phil Pearce, 68, had travelled
to Benidorm, with a
travel companion, a few
days before he went missing,
in the early hours of Tuesday
September 10th. Worried
family members, sons,
Wayne and Lee, and daughter-in-law
Louise arrived in
the resort earlier this week
and have spent their time
trying to piece together the
circumstances surrounding
his disappearance.
On a crowdfunding page,
set up by his granddaughter,
Charlotte, which has so far
raised 420 pounds towards
a target of 5000 pounds, she
by Andy Mansell
describes the night Phil, who
she affectionately calls ‘Papa
Bear’ went missing.
‘Tuesday we received a
dreaded heart wrenching
call that Phil a beloved dad,
granddad, great grandad
and friend had gone missing,
our hearts sunk into the pits
of our stomach.’
Explaining that her grandad,
could be suffering from
early stage dementia, but
has refused doctor’s appointments
in fear of the diagnosis,
Charlotte (Lottie), describes
how Phil was found
wandering the streets on the
evening of Monday September
9th, by another man.
‘This kind gentleman had
stopped phil and asked if he
was okay but Phil seemed
Phil was wearing a
striped polo shirt when
he disappeared
every disorientated and confused.
Phil couldnt remember
his home address, his ho-
Brit golfer killed
in Benidorm
tel, his age or anything. Phil
didnt have anything on his
person no ID, no belongings.’
‘This gentleman took, Phil
by taxi to the local Benidorm
police station, where he was
held for a few hours before
being released at 3am tuesday
morning whether it was
there authority or because
Phil didnt want to be there
is another story, We feel The
Spanish police have already
failed their duty of care, as
phil wasnt in the right place
to be making that decision
about his safety or wellbeing
at that moment in time’ says,
the crowdfunding text.
In the ten days since leaving
the police station, despite
one possible sighting
at a hotel, Charlotte has
confirmed that the search
remains fruitless.
"My mum and dad went to
the hotel but unfortunately
the manager was not in.
They have been advised to
go back today and ask him
if they may be able to go
through the CCTV to see if
he was there.
"After that they are going
to the police headquarters
in the Old Town to view
their CCTV.
"Apart from that we have
not heard anything. A few
people have asked if he may
have changed his clothes but
we don't think that's possible.
"He had no belongings
when he was released from
the police station so would
have had no way of getting
back into his apartment.
There is no sign of anything
at the apartment."
Photos of Phil, who lives in
Bridgewater, Somerset, have
now been widely shared on
social media as well as leading
UK news sites and son,
Lee issued a description of
the missing man:
“He’s wearing a stripy polo
shirt, dark blue jeans, black
shoes and has short grey
hair. He speaks in a very
broad Somerset accent. He is
5ft6in and of medium build.
He has blue eyes and has a
very strange right big toe
guys like two toe nails.”
A foreign office spokesperson,
has confirmed there
have been no updates and
released a statement saying,
“We are offering support to
the family of a British man
who has been reported missing
in Benidorm, and are in
contact with the Spanish
authorities responsible for
searching for him.”
Anyone, who thinks they
may have seen the missing
pensioner, should contact,
Benidorm Policia National,
with their information.
A BRITISH man enjoying
a golfing holiday with
a group of friends, was
killed after being hit by a
car on a Benidorm street,
last weekend.
Scotsman, Stuart Macneill,
42, had been visiting a
nightclub in the resort, last
Friday evening, with other
members of his party, but
decided to leave early.
Popular Stuart, from the
Isle of Islay, was in Benidorm
with a close knit group
of mates on the annual trip,
which was set up in memory
of the father of a close friend.
by Andy Mansell
A family member, speaking
to the Scottish press, paid
tribute to the Scottish Power
worker, who was known to
everyone on the island.
They said: “Stuart was
a real character and didn’t
have a bad bone in his body.
There is not a person on
Islay who wouldn’t have
known him and the whole
place is in mourning.
“Stuart was such a generous
character and he had a
great sense of humour.People
are in a state of disbelief that
he has gone so suddenly.”
A keen runner, Stuart
had completed several road
races, including marathons
in Stirling and on Islay. A
post-mortem examination
was due to take place in
Spain earlier this week,
leaving his family in the
UK unsure of how quickly
the victim’s body can be returned
home for his funeral.
The rest of the golfing
group, decided to cut short
their break and were able to
arrange earlier flights back
to Scotland, to give support
to his family.
Stuart had
completed
several
Scottish road
races and
marathons