Brit, 22, missing for 5 days in New Zealand hasn’t answered birthday texts

A British backpacker is missing in New Zealand after she didn’t return to her hostel room in Auckland or respond to birthday messages, her worried family says.

Fears are growing for Grace Millane, 22, who vanished five days ago and hasn’t been in contact with her relatives back in the UK.

The alarm was raised after the recent uni graduate’s messages stopped on Saturday and she didn’t respond to birthday well-wishes on Sunday.

Grace, from Wickford, Essex, has been in New Zealand for about two weeks and had been in regular contact with her family and friends via WhatsApp and social media.

Her family are using social media to issue desperate pleas for help to find her.

Her brother Michael wrote on Facebook: "Grace has been missing for 5 days.

"She has not returned to her hostel room in Auckland New Zealand and family members have had no contact since Saturday 1st December.

"The Embassy have been contacted.

"Please share and contact if you have any information regarding her whereabouts."

Another brother, Declan, posted photos of his sister as he urged people to help the family.

He wrote: "Can everyone please share this, we haven’t heard from my sister since Saturday is currently travelling in New Zealand and was last seen in Auckland.

"PLEASE SHARE AND SPREAD THIS EVERHWHERE."

Grace, who graduated from the University of Lincoln with a Bachelor of Advertising and Marketing in September, was staying at Base Backpackers on Queen Street in Auckland city centre, local media reported.

Police in Auckland confirmed a missing persons report was filed on Wednesday for Grace.

Tony McLeod, British High Commission Wellington consular manager, said diplomats were assisting police in New Zealand and the UK.

He told local media: "We are working with the family in the UK and New Zealand Police in relation to reports of a missing British national in New Zealand.

"We are unable to make further comment while police are investigating the matter."

People from across New Zealand and the UK have shared the family’s appeals and offered messages of support.

One wrote on Michael’s Facebook page: "We are in Wellington and heading up to Auckland via the main sights… Will keep an eye out ourselves but also show this about the sites we stay in.

"I hope she is safe and well, gets in contact very soon."

Another wrote: "Shared NZ and Dorset. Have asked my NZ friend to share too. I hope she is found safe and well and has just got lost somewhere."

One posted: "Shared in Whitianga, Coromandel. We hope Grace is found safe and well soon."

And another wrote: "Shared in Auckland. Praying for her safety."

Read More

Top news stories from Mirror Online

Source: Read Full Article