Police issue renewed appeal for missing holidaymaker from Wales. Ed
Police are making a fresh appeal for information about a vulnerable man who has been missing for one month this evening (Friday, June 26, 2015) on the Isle of Wight.
71-year-old Michael Davies, known as Mike to his family, from Blaina in Wales was on holiday with his wife, visiting the island as part of a coach trip when he left the Hotel Maria in Sandown on the evening of Tuesday, May 26, 2015.
Last confirmed sighting
The last confirmed sighting of Mr Davies was on CCTV as he walked along Avenue Road in Sandown away from the seafront outside the Southern Co-operative store at 43 minutes past midnight on the morning of Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Further CCTV footage from inside the Hotel Maria shows Mr Davies walking in a corridor after 11pm on Tuesday night (May 26) before leaving his room shortly after midnight on the Wednesday morning (May 27) – please see YouTube links below in ‘Notes to Editors’
Description from CCTV footage
Michael, known as Mike to his family, is described as white with cropped white hair.
In the Hotel Maria CCTV footage, Mike can be seen wearing jeans, a blue zip-up top with the number ’95’ on the front, a horizontal striped blue and white T-shirt underneath, and a cream coloured baseball cap.
He is also seen carrying a torch, which he switches on and off while walking in the hotel corridor.
Detectives are asking members of the public to focus on Mike’s clothing in this CCTV footage, particularly the distinctive blue zip-up top with the number ’95’ on the front.
We are especially keen to hear from any members of the public who remember seeing a man matching Mr Davies’s description walking in Sandown town centre with a torch during the early hours of Wednesday, May 27.
Mike could have appeared confused and lost because he may not have had access to his blood pressure medication.
Fresh appeal from Mike Davies’s family
In a statement released through Hampshire Constabulary, relatives said:
“We would like to thank the police, members of the public, and the media again for their continued support through our dreadful time.
“We still remain in limbo with the not knowing where our husband, father and grandfather is.
“We are still crying out for any information about Mike – please contact the Police ASAP if you have any.”
Police action so far
Numerous searches involving specialist officers, dogs, and rescue volunteers have taken place in the areas surrounding Avenue Road since May 27.
Water search officers from Hampshire Constabulary have conducted enquiries in the area of reed beds near Sandown and Yaverland seafront.
Aerial searches and leaflet drops have been carried out in Sandown.
We remain most grateful for the expert assistance of search and rescue volunteers from the organisation WightSAR, and the genuine offers of support from members of the public to help find Mike.
The national ‘Missing People’ charity has issued an appeal and poster.
Officers and PCSOs from the local neighbourhood policing team will be on patrol in Sandown this evening (Friday, June 26, 2015) to display and distribute more leaflets and posters of Mr Davies.
What could have happened to Mike Davies?
Our investigation has found no evidence to suggest any crime or foul play.
No trace of Mr Davies has been found to date.
Hampshire Constabulary is reviewing all available information to help identify further possible search sites in the Sandown area, where we believe it is most likely Mr Davies will be found.
Police are keeping an open mind about what’s happened to Mike. It remains possible that he has taken shelter somewhere in Sandown because of his disorientated state on the night of his disappearance.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Isle of Wight Investigation team at Newport police station by phoning on 101. Mini-com users can phone 18001 101. In an emergency, please call 999.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnD_EhBbRtQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR-dkqgkdPQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMsvoz_Jv4Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfaIW5YHSds
