SA family desperate as search for dad missing in Thailand goes nowhere

BY ERNEST MABUZA

 

An image being shared by relatives on social media of John Gregory Phillips, who has been missing in Thailand for 14 days. His family says money is running out and the language barrier is a big obstacle as they continue their search for him.
Image: Supplied

 

An anxious family is running out of money after spending the past 14 days frantically searching for a father who is missing in Thailand.

 

John Gregory Phillips, 45, went missing while on holiday with his wife and son on New Year's Day.

 

His cousin, Anita Caral Diergaardt, told TimesLIVE family members had gone to the South African embassy in Thailand after he disappeared, but were initially told they could not be helped.

 

"His brother-in-law from Northern Ireland then contacted South Africa, who said they should be helped and contacted the SA embassy in Thailand. They then received minimal assistance," said Diergaardt.

 

Diergaardt said the family was still searching for the engineer, who hails from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape.

 

"We believe he might have had a seizure and is confused. The last lead was on January 6 from CCTV footage. No other leads yet," she said.

 

Full story: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-01-14-sa-family-desperate-as-search-for-dad-missing-in-thailand-goes-nowhere/

 

-- Times LIVE 2020-01-15

Phillips went missing in Ratchathewi, Bangkok.  His brother-in-law, Brendan Doyle, posted a message on Facebook explaining that he "suffers from siezures and while on holiday with his wife and son, he went for a walk alone, probably had a siezure and has not returned".

"The Thailand police have various sightings of him on CCTV and at one stage found him wanting to jump off a bridge, but when they approached he ran away. He is in a confused state of mind and totally disorientated," he wrote.

 

From the linked article, more information in case anyone in that area has information...

 

Best of luck to the family!