British ex-pat, John Bainbridge, 79, went missing from his home in Odelouca, near Silves, on Friday morning, and his family are said to be frantic to find him.
The grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s, is described as 6-foot tall (1.83m), “very slim”” (63kg), with grey hair, and, according to his wife, Anita, is “almost certain” to be feeling very lost and disoriented.
Police and volunteers have been conducting searches since the alarm was raised, but as yet without success.
After almost a week with no news or sightings and temperatures set to plunge, Mr. Bainbridge’s wife and family are desperate to find him, particularly due to his health condition, age and the cold weather.
On Tuesday this week, the GNR stepped-up the search for the missing pensioner, drafting in more resources from Lisbon such as a GIPS search and rescue unit plus sniffer dogs.
A source close to the search said “It’s clear the GNR are doing whatever they can in very difficult terrain.”
Mr. Bainbridge went missing on Friday 26 January 2018, in the early hours of the morning after climbing out of a window from his home in Odelouca, Silves.
He was last seen around 5.30am that morning near a restaurant on the EN124, not far from the couple’s home.
At the time he went missing, he was wearing a black pullover with a shirt underneath, blue jeans and black trainers with white flecks. He left home without a phone or identification.
Anyone with information should contact: Anita Bainbridge – 963512870; Elizabeth Henwood – 930 614 406, Marie Hindle – 91402432 (Portuguese); Safe Communities Portugal – 913045093; Silves GNR – 282 440 290; International emergency number – 112, or go to the nearest GNR police station.