Esther McVey: Case of missing Zisimos a warning to trekkers

Aug 29 2012 by Our Correspondent, Heswall News

AFTER exams and results many students turn their attention to travelling.

In fact this week is the start of the new trekking season, and as wonderful as it can be, my article today aims to strike a cautionary note and to relay a personal story on behalf of a local family.

The other week I was visited by a family member of Zisimos Souflas, a 27-year-old graduate who travelled to Nepal and who has never returned home. The first anyone knew he was missing was when he failed to board his return flight to Manchester in May and as of this day no one knows what has happened to him.

The Foreign Office, Police Missing Persons Unit, Interpol and the Nepali Police are all involved in the search for Zisimos and I have asked the foreign secretary William Hague to continue to do whatever he can to try to resolve the mystery surrounding Zisimos’ disappearance and to ensure the Foreign Office makes available to all those Brits who are considering a trekking trip to Nepal a comprehensive guide pointing out the dangers of such a trip.

Zisimos’ family and friends have launched a media and internet campaign to find him. They are asking anyone who is planning to go to Nepal if they would like to take some “missing” posters with them to assist with the search. They also very much want to make other travellers aware of the dangers of trekking.

If you have any information or would like to help with the search, please email sophie_souflas@hotmail.com

There is also this link to advice from the FCO: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/nepal