The mother of a British man who disappeared while volunteering on a farm in Sardinia has launched a desperate appeal for his safe return.
Michael Frison, 25, from Chard, Somerset, has not been seen since he set off for a walk in rural Luras on July 13.
Mr Frison, who grew up in Bristol, was visiting family while doing volunteer work in the north of the island. A police investigation was dropped on Friday.
His mother Cristina Pittalis has since flown to the island, where she says her son left his phone, laptop and ID in his accommodation.
In a video shared on social media, Ms Pittalis said Mr Frison’s younger brother Emanuele was “suffering from your absence”.
Michael Frison, 25, (pictured) from Chard, Somerset, has not been seen since he set off for a walk in rural Luras, Sardinia on July 13
Mr Frison (pictured) grew up in Bristol and visited family when he was volunteering on the north side of the island.
Mr Frison disappeared in northern Sardinia on Saturday before authorities began a search
She said, ‘I know you’re alive. I’m looking for you and I’m very worried.
‘I understand how close you two are, and he loves you very much.
‘I feel in my heart that you are alive.’
“I know it might scare you to see the authorities or even the Carabinieri (police) looking for you,” the concerned mother added.
‘You don’t have to be afraid of being found. Don’t hesitate to ask someone for help if you need water or food.
“Think how much Emanuele suffers from your absence. He even left you a voicemail message.”
In a voicemail message, Mr. Frison’s younger brother said, “I miss you, come home.
‘If anyone receives this message, find my brother and tell him I sent this message.
“Tell him my name. Tell him I miss him and that I love him.”
A fundraiser has been set up to try and raise money to get volunteers to Sardinia to help find Mr Frison’s. So far £2,765 has been raised.
Michael’s mother shared a photo of him taken last week in a plea for help with local searches
Mr Frison’s mother, Cristina Pittalis, has since flown to the island. According to her, her son left this phone, laptop and ID in his accommodation.
A fundraiser has been set up to try and raise money to get volunteers to Sardinia to help find Mr Frison. So far £2,765 has been raised
Organiser Evie Baker wrote: ‘On Saturday 13th July Michael went missing in Sardinia. He was due to do some volunteer work but was feeling unwell, unaccustomed to the hot climate and possibly dehydrated. He was given water and went to sleep.
‘When he woke up he said he was going for a walk and now unfortunately he’s gone.
“I can’t tell you how incredibly sweet this family is. I’m truly sad for them.”
Mr Frison is one of three people missing in northern Sardinia since Sunday, Italian media reported.
An elderly Italian tourist also disappeared while on holiday in Valledoria, and an elderly woman disappeared in Stintino.
The missing tourist in Valledoria turned out to be a tourist with health problems who was on holiday in the region.
The tourist in Stintino was identified as Carla Visentin when her family alerted authorities.
On Sunday it was reported that she had disappeared from the area of Cala Lupo.
According to local media, she also has health problems and has difficulty moving.
Authorities have been conducting a “non-stop” search for the three missing people since Sunday evening, La Repubblica reports reported.
The investigations are putting heavy demands on police resources as temperatures rise across the continent.
Greece has recently been hit by a series of tragic disappearances. According to Petros Vassilakis, the police spokesman for the South Aegean region, there is a “normal pattern” of tourists going hiking in high temperatures.
On June 26th the time had come reported Six people have died in heat-related incidents, as authorities urge caution during the heatwave.
Daily Mail columnist Michael Mosley was found dead on June 9 on the island of Symi, another Aegean island, after a four-day search by land, sea and air.
He had been walking alone in the high temperatures before he disappeared.
And authorities investigating the disappearance of 19-year-old Briton Jay Slater today found the remains of a body in Tenerife, almost a month after his disappearance.
Although Spanish police are still waiting for a full identification, they say that ‘everything points to Jay.’ According to them, he may have ‘had an accident or fallen in the difficult to reach place where he was found.’
Despite concerns about the weather, most missing persons are found or returned within the first few days of their disappearance, the metropolitan police.