John Joyce was last seen in Fátima on Friday, 14 July, where he was caught on CCTV.
His niece, Catherine Hathaway, told The Portugal News on Thursday (20 July) that her uncle was on an organised six-day group pilgrimage to Fátima when he disappeared and the family has had no news of him as yet.
Ms. Hathaway has launched a Facebook appeal in a bid to help track down her uncle, and said: “We are increasingly worried.”
She has also urged people in Portugal to “start searching in verges and ditches, assuming he is injured.
“He has been missing for nearly a week now and our worry is only increasing.”
“We are asking people to search sheds, out-houses – anywhere he may have gone to find shade and become trapped. As time goes on we are more convinced he has been injured, as this is very out of character.”
Mr. Joyce had flown into Portugal on a flight to Lisbon from London Gatwick, and was staying at the Hotel Essence in Marianos, which is a stone’s throw from the main Fátima Sanctuary.
A spokesperson for the hotel also told The Portugal News on Tuesday that Mr. Joyce had been due to check out the day before, on Monday, 17 July, but so far “there has been no news of him.”
“He is still missing”, the source confirmed.
Missing persons website, The Lucie Blackman Trust, which assists British people overseas, said Mr. Joyce met the group for breakfast then went to a video screening in a small studio about 90 metres away from the hotel and after this the group went their separate ways.
He was last seen walking towards a museum about 11am.
The GNR police are believed to be spearheading the hunt for Mr. Joyce. His sisters are also thought to be in Portugal searching.
GNR spokesperson, Captain Carlos Canatário, confirmed the disappearance, telling newspaper Correio da Manhã that local hotels, fire-fighters, and even taxi drivers have been alerted to keep an eye out for the pensioner.
The British Embassy in Lisbon confirmed to The Portugal News “our consular colleagues are assisting the family of a British man who has been reported missing, and we are in contact with the Portuguese police.”
He is described as being of large build and about 5ft 6in in height. His hair is a crewcut style, balding and he is missing a lower denture. It is believed he was wearing black mid-calf shorts, a T-shirt and black sandals.
Anyone with information should contact Hotel Essence Inn, Marianos. 249 531 572, the Lucie Blackman Trust on 0800 098 8485, email any information to ops@lbtrust.org, or contact the local Fátima GNR police on (+351) 249 530 580.