British pensioner found dehydrated nearly 48 hours after vanishing from Costa del Sol bar
Clifford Wildgoose, 76, located in a supermarket by an American tourist after appeals circulated; he was taken to hospital, family says.
A British pensioner has been found dehydrated nearly 48 hours after vanishing from Patrick's 19th Hole Bar in Puerto Banus, an upmarket resort on Spain's Costa del Sol. Clifford Wildgoose, 76, disappeared around 2 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, triggering a search that drew on social media, local authorities and the concern of his family. He had been spending the weekend with a friend in the area when he vanished, and his disappearance prompted a public appeal for information as relatives worried about his wellbeing.
Wildgoose's daughter, Melanie Hall, said the family had been "worried sick" after he left his phone and passport in a friend's apartment in La Cala de Mijas, about 30 minutes from Puerto Banus. Spanish authorities also examined card payments on the morning he vanished and the night before as they sought to trace his movements. Hall said her father, a father of five, had not been feeling well and was not steady on his feet due to a prior knee replacement and other health issues. He had intended to fly home to Manchester on Sunday morning, but his sudden absence prompted a major search across social media and local media outlets.
In a development announced late on Saturday, an American tourist spotted Wildgoose in a supermarket around 10:30 p.m. local time and immediately contacted his daughter, who then alerted Spanish authorities. The tourist waited with Wildgoose as officers arrived, and he was taken to hospital where staff described him as dehydrated but stable. His daughter said the relief was immense, adding: "To say I'm delighted is an understatement. I got straight on the phone to police and they went to pick him up and have taken him to hospital."
Hall noted that her father’s wife, Joanne Wildgoose, and other relatives had just landed in Spain to join the search when the call arrived. She underscored that the priority remains her father's health and safety and thanked the people who helped locate him.
As of now, there is no official explanation for why Wildgoose disappeared. His family and investigators have stressed that the focus remains on his recovery and on gathering information that could clarify the sequence of events leading to his vanishing. Authorities indicated the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance remains open, with further updates anticipated as officers review surveillance footage, travel records, and other leads.
The case highlights the challenges of tracking a traveler who may have been unwell and without his usual possessions, and it underscores the ongoing cooperation between Spanish authorities, the local community, and international witnesses who contributed to the rapid search after his disappearance.