Concern grows for 'missing' man

The family of a Sunderland man are becoming concerned for his safety after he disappeared on holiday in Thailand.

Martin Pentland, 35, from Roker, has not been seen or heard from since he arrived in Bangkok on 7 July.

Police said on Wednesday that Mr Pentland had booked to stay at a hotel in Pattaya but did not arrive.

On previous trips, he has kept in touch with his family daily, but this time he has not responded to messages sent to his laptop computer and mobile phone.

'No response'

Mr Pentland left Heathrow Airport on 6 July and arrived at Bangkok Airport at 0950 local time on 7 July.

Checks with immigration at the airport have shown that his passport was checked on departure from the flight.

He has friends in Thailand and visits the country two or three times a year on holiday, and was planning to travel to Pattaya and meet up with friends, but has not contacted them.

The British Embassy has also sent Mr Pentland an e-mail asking him to contact them immediately, but there has been no response.

Det Insp John Stafford said: "We are treating this report of Mr Pentland's disappearance very seriously.

"We believe he went to Thailand for a holiday but he may have had other plans that we are unaware of. If he has confided in people about them, I would urge them to get in touch."

--BBC, UK 2004-07-14

Maria Russell writes:

"My brother Martin Pentland was supposed to meet up with friends in Thailand on Wednesday 7/7/04 at the Euro Star Hotel in Pattaya but never arrived. He was last seen in Bangkok Airport at 9.50 a.m. 7/7/04. If anyone has any information about his whereabouts, please email me."

[email protected]

If you know anything, let Maria know...

Very disturbing. Sounds as if Mr. Pentland was a seasoned Thailand traveler. Arriving 7/7 and expected in Pattaya later that day, would he have made prior arrangements for transport from airport to Pattaya? Would he have given this information to friends? I am sure that the authorities have already checked his personal computer in England to see if any transport reservations had been made.

Would he be the type of traveler who would hire transport at the airport without reccomendations? Unless a laptop was his only computer and he traveled with it, I would start with emails to Thailand regarding transport to Pattaya. But, as I said, I am sure the authorities have already done so.

Hoping for the best for Mr. Pentland and his family.

Very disturbing. Sounds as if Mr. Pentland was a seasoned Thailand traveler. Arriving 7/7 and expected in Pattaya later that day, would he have made prior arrangements for transport from airport to Pattaya? Would he have given this information to friends? I am sure that the authorities have already checked his personal computer in England to see if any transport reservations had been made.

Would he be the type of traveler who would hire transport at the airport without reccomendations? Unless a laptop was his only computer and he traveled with it, I would start with emails to Thailand regarding transport to Pattaya. But, as I said, I am sure the authorities have already done so.

Hoping for the best for Mr. Pentland and his family.

Likewise

Wasn't this the guy who was found in a BKK hospital with Malaria a couple of days later?

Wasn't this the guy who was found in a BKK hospital with Malaria a couple of days later?

Someone must know the answer to that possibility

Not to be disrespectful in anyway, but didn't they just find a floater out in the ocean a couple weeks back? Hopefully they have determined it is not him and they find him alive and well soon.

Best of luck to his family.

~WISteve

Wasn't this the guy who was found in a BKK hospital with Malaria a couple of days later?

Someone must know the answer to that possibility

It is................it was on teletext in the uk about 2 weeks ago. We discussed it on a thread ,cant remember which forum though!