The family of British pensioner Clifford Wildgoose, 76, who went missing near Marbella, say they are especially worried due to his health issues
The daughter of a missing British former property developer says she is “beside herself with worry” after he disappeared during a Costa del Sol holiday.
Clifford Wildgoose, 76, was last seen on Saturday at around 2am in the upmarket resort of Puerto Banus near Marbella, at Patrick’s 19th Hole Bar. He was due to board a flight to Manchester later that morning with a friend, a solicitor, who had been on holiday with him in Spain.
But Melanie Hall, Mr Wildgoose’s daughter, said there was no sign of him at Malaga Airport and the family are “extremely worried” for his safety. Ms Hall, who lives in Manchester, said today: “We’re all extremely worried. I was going to travel to Spain this morning but we’ve been advised to hang on for the moment. The gate has just closed for the flight he was due to board to get back home and his friends are at the airport and there’s no sign of him and they’ve had no contact with him.”
She added that a £7 transaction was made on his bank card at a supermarket about five minutes from where he was last seen, along with several small purchases yesterday. She said the police had been informed and hoped they were investigating the transactions.
Ms Hall continued: “At the moment we don’t know if it’s my dad making those purchases or someone who’s got hold of his wallet and something bad’s happened to him. The friend my dad was with said he just vanished, that he was stood at the bar one minute and gone the next.”
She added that her father is “not that steady on his feet” due to a knee replacement and several other “health issues”.
The pensioner, a father of five daughters, is originally from Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, and now lives in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
Ms Hall said: “He had left his phone and passport in his friend’s apartment in La Cala de Mijas about a half-hour drive from Puerto Banus and he won’t know the address of the flat because he’s never been before. All he had on him are some euros and the bank card.”
She added: “Everyone loves my dad. He’s a chatty, friendly kind man and very well-known in Marsden near Huddersfield where all his friends live and he used to live. He’s very well-travelled. He’s been a businessman all his life. Yorkshire Police have been really helpful and I know his friend has spoken to Spanish police. He’s told them about the transactions on the card and they say they’re dealing with it. I’ve tried ringing the hospitals.”
Mr Wildgoose’s family initially raised the alarm about his disappearance on social media.
Ms Hall said in an initial post yesterday: “Missing person last seen at Patrick’s 19th Hole Bar in Puerto Banus. He’s 76 from the UK and he’s called Clifford Wildgoose. Family are extremely worried and police have been informed. Any information please message.”
She added in another message late on Saturday: “He’s due to fly home tomorrow. He has no phone and no-one has seen or heard from him. Family are worried sick. Please contact if any info.”
She also shared online that her father “wasn’t feeling well” at the time he went missing.