A BRITISH family fear a 23-year-old university student was taken after he mysteriously vanished from a party boat at a Brit holiday hotspot.
Julian Amaral disappeared during a white party aboard the Vida De Jovem, meaning “life of a young person”, after boarding the vessel with his cousin.
6
6
His heartbroken sister Jennifer Amaral, 34, told The Sun: “I was so shocked when I found out about all of this. I really thought we would’ve found him by now!
“My theory is that he’s been taken… this is definitely unprovoked.
“He could have been an easy target because he doesn’t speak the language.”
Julian, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had been on holiday with his family when he disappeared in Lisbon, Portugal, around midnight yesterday.
READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS
TRAGIC FIND
Missing non-verbal girl, 5, found dead after wandering from vacation home
TRAGIC FIND
Body found in search for missing Brit who vanished on Greek island during hike
The university student was last heard from by his mum on Tuesday, when he told her he would be attending the white party on a boat in Lisbon, Portugal.
After boarding the vessel, Julian told his 24-year-old cousin that he was going to the toilet.
As music blared, Julian supposedly made his way down to the urinal in the basement of the boat at around 11.25pm and has not been seen since.
The student’s phone location froze at almost exactly the same time he told his cousin he was going to the toilet.
Most read in The Sun
COP ‘JOKE’
Cop & colleague changed sexuality of her ex on police record as ‘juvenile prank’
NEVER ENDING
Putin warns Russians to be ‘prepared for anything’ as he expands drone factory
CASH CRISIS
Army is ordered to STOP training as MoD faces running out of cash
TURNING SOUR
Gov sparks food poisoning outbreak as 800 fall sick after eating free meals
6
6
It remains stuck showing him in the middle of the ocean.
As the boat neared the dock, his cousin – who had been busy socialising – realised Julian had been gone for some time.
He frantically began searching for him before calling other family members in a panic.
The family raced to where the boat was docked before launching a desperate search through the surrounding area.
At around midnight, they tore through nightclubs, street corners and restaurants where Julian might have gone.
Their first stop was Docks, a bar where boat parties usually end, but there was no sign of him.
After around an hour, the family reported him to police.
The case has now been moved into a criminal investigation after the 24-hour timeframe passed.
6
6
Several witnesses have since claimed they saw Julian get off the boat when it docked back in Lisbon.
Two security guards are among those who reportedly saw him disembark.
Another witness contacted Jennifer on social media and said she had spoken to Julian and also saw him get off the vessel.
Jennifer said police searched the boat but found no trace of her brother.
Tearing up on the phone, she said: “We told the police and the police went to search the boat but there was no sign of him at all.
“Not a lot could be done because of the time the incident took place.”
She added: “It’s all happened very unexpectedly. It’s all very unusual to me.”
Cops have also checked the nearest hospitals in case Julian took himself there or was taken there by someone else.
But the family plans to search the hospitals themselves again as the desperate hunt continues.
Jennifer said her brother has a bright future ahead of him and described him as one of the friendliest people anyone could meet.
In a heartbreaking message to Julian, she said: “He has such a bright future ahead of him and he is one of the friendliest people people you will ever meet.
“He is the most kind-hearted person in my life. Just so bubbly and personable.
“He is so loved, he’s got nieces and nephews who are hurting.
“My mum is really hurting. We just want someone to come across him and say something to us.
“We miss him and we love him and we just want him to be back safely.”
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Jennifer is urging anyone with more information to come forward and contact her.