The family of a British father-of-two are in a living ‘nightmare’ almost a week after he missed his flight and failed to come home.
John Hardy, 37, was reported missing on December 18 after failing to board his flight from Benidorm, Spain, to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
He had been staying at a friend’s home in Alicante on Spain’s southeastern Costa Blanca, when he left for the holiday hotspot.
His sister, Courtney George, last spoke to him on December 14. John barely goes 48 hours without speaking with his sister, let alone nine days, Courtney said.
‘I have to have Christmas for my own kids but I would happily set my tree on fire and run away from this nightmare,’ she said.
‘We’ve lost a family member recently and he was really upset and thought he needed a holiday.
‘His youngest is very confused and the 13-year-old has seen everything on social media and is very distressed. They love their daddy.
‘All they want for Christmas is their dad to come home.’
Courtney, a pharmacy assistant from Belfast, said she hasn’t eaten for five days – and knows its unlikely she’ll be eating Christmas dinner with her brother.
‘We already know that we won’t have John for Christmas,’ she said.
The mum-of-two has since launched a GoFundMe to raise money for friends and family to fly to Spain.
‘We understand this time of the year can be difficult for everyone,’ he said.
‘Unfortunately, this year is exceptionally difficult for our family and friends and we need your support in getting John home.’
The police said: ‘The Police Service of Northern Ireland received a report on Wednesday, December 18 that a 37-year-old man from Belfast, holidaying in Spain, was believed to be missing.
‘Enquiries are ongoing in conjunction with our international policing partners.’
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