Man missing in Turkey: David Cann's family 'extremely concerned'

  • Published
David CannImage source, Family photo
Image caption,

David Cann appeared in "good spirits" and had been been enjoying activities such as canyoning, paragliding and a jeep safari in the days before he went missing

The family of a man missing in Turkey say they are "extremely concerned for his well-being" and that his disappearance is out of character.

David Cann, 56, has not been seen since 2 July, when he had breakfast at his hotel in Hisaronu and then told the manager he was going for a walk.

His belongings and passport were left in his hotel room and he did not turn up for his flight home the next day.

Mr Cann, from Southsea, Hampshire, was on a week's holiday on his own.

His nephew Gavin Thomas said the family had travelled out to Turkey after the travel rep at the Happy Nur Hotel, in the Fethiye region, contacted them to say the foreign languages teacher had failed to return.

Image caption,

David Cann's family believe he walked along this road out of Hisaronu towards a walking trail after setting off on 2 July

Mr Thomas said: "Having explored the area a bit ourselves, we are very worried that he might have got into trouble during his walk; perhaps a fall, got lost, a medical emergency.

"There is also the fear that there is the risk of a criminal activity."

He said in the week before Mr Cann's disappearance, another man had reported being approached by three men who tried to force him into a vehicle, but he ran off.

This had happened on the same path Mr Cann was due to walk, Mr Thomas said.

"He was able to give a basic description of these men to us, and we have shared this with the police. We do not know if they are following this up."

Image source, Family photo
Image caption,

There has been no sign of Mr Cann since he disappeared on 2 July

More than 60 people, along with dogs, drones and mounted officers, conducted a search across a wide area of forest on Tuesday but no trace of Mr Cann was found.

His family think the best hope of finding him now lies in tracking his mobile phone, which stopped ringing on Monday, and they are pushing for Turkish authorities to use the available technology.

However, Mr Thomas said communicating with the local police, the Jandarma, was "not possible due to the language barrier".

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are providing support to the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Turkey, and our staff are in contact with the Turkish authorities."

Hampshire Constabulary said it was liaising with the family and the Foreign Office, but had minimal involvement as the investigation was being led by the Turkish authorities.

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