A BRITISH tourist who vanished from Alicante airport has been found alive following a three-day search involving police, family and the local expat community.
Jason Taylor, 36, was due to fly to Birmingham at 10.30am on Saturday but never boarded his flight.
But the Welsh engineer was finally located today. His brother-in-law confirmed that he was found to the Spanish Eye this afternoon, simply stating: ‘Yes, it’s true.’
Asked whether he was okay, he added: ‘We’re not sure yet, all I know is that he’s been found.’
Meanwhile, Dyfed-Powys Police said in an update: ‘Jason, who was reported missing in Spain, has been found and is with his family. Thank you to everyone who shared the appeal.’
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Jason had been enjoying a stag do in Benidorm with friends in the days before his disappearance.
His wife Maria Taylor told the Spanish Eye today that police obtained CCTV from the airport after it emerged he had suffered in an issue with his boarding pass.
She said: ‘He waited in the queue for the desk for about three to four minutes and then walked out the airport, he went towards Torrellano way and that’s the last they can see of him.’
Maria said family members flew out to Spain yesterday to help with the search.
‘We’ve got loads of locals helping look for him too,’ she added.
Maria said she had ‘no idea’ why he left the airport, adding: ‘I think he’s gone for a walk to clear his head and he’s got lost.’
The Spanish Eye has contacted the Guardia Civil for comment. Dyfed-Powys Police in Wales told the Spanish Eye that authorities in Spain are leading the investigation.
In a Facebook post online, one of Jason’s friends explained how he ended up getting separated from the group after they arrived to the airport together at around 8.30am.
He told the Spanish Eye that he was flying back out on Tuesday to help with the search.
He said in his post: ‘Our easyJet flight to Birmingham was due to depart at 10.30am, with the gates closing at 10.00am.
‘Jason had lost his phone so had to access his boarding pass from someone else in the group assisting who was already passed the gate.
‘We tried several times to scan his boarding pass but it was not accepted and the gate would not open, an error message came up saying to contact the airline.
‘So Jason went to go and ask for assistance. One member of the group waited behind the gate for him to return but this was the last we saw or heard from him.
‘It is very unlike Jason and the family is worried sick. Jason was not ill, or drunk or incapable.
‘We have several people flying back out today to try to find him and understand what has happened. UK police have been informed and it has been passed up to Interpol, who now have an alert on his passport so we would be made aware if it has been used. We are also in contact with the UK consulate.’
