Mum of Brit, 25, who vanished on walk in Sardinia flies out to find missing son after Italian cops call off hunt
THE mum of the latest missing Brit Michael Frison has flown out to Sardinia to launch an urgent hunt for her son.
Michael, from Somerset, went out for a walk after feeling “unwell” in the rural area of Luras on July 13 – and has not been seen or heard ever since.
The Brit, 25, had been visiting his relatives and was due for some volunteer work on a farm in the northern part of the island.
Mum Cristina Pittalis – who was left “distraught” after hearing the news of her son’s disappearance – flew out to the Italian holiday island last week to join the frantic search for the missing Brit.
His mum said he left his phone, laptop and ID behind at his accommodation before leaving for the walk.
She added her son was not “used to the hot climate” and was “possibly dehydrated” when he left for a walk alone in the remote location.
She added: “He went to sleep, and the following day, he was visibly confused. So they gave him water and let him sit in the shade.
“But he said he would go for a little walk and he hasn’t been seen since.”
Michael’s shorts, T-shirt and trainers were later found on a wall near his volunteer site, ITV reports.
The average temperature of the day Michael vanished was 33C.
Emergency services launched a manhunt to find Michael in the isolated region on the holiday island – but some forest guards said the area was “too vast” to find him.
However, Italian cops shockingly axed the search operation for the missing Brit last Friday.
A heartbroken Cristina, who is based in Bristol, has now pleaded for Michael to make contact with her.
She said: “I know you are alive. I’m looking for you, and I am very worried.”
“I understand how close you two are, and he loves you very much.
“I feel in my heart that you are alive.”
Cristina said that during specialist searches, search dogs hadn’t picked up on any scent of Michael, dead or alive – and is seeing this as a positive sign.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been started to help aid the search for Michael on the Italian holiday island.
The fundraiser read: “I’m trying to raise funds that will go towards helping the group of volunteers that is currently being gathered together to head out from the UK to help search for Michael Frison, it will also be used as a financial buffer for Cristina and her youngest son.”
A FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Sardinia and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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