Plea to Lanzarote holidaymakers over missing Wirral woman Margaret Holt

Jan 4 2012 Heswall News

THE family of a missing Wirral woman who went missing on Lanzarote over Christmas is continuing to scour the island for her.

Volunteers involved in the search for 65-year-old Margaret Holt, of Poulton, are now calling on holidaymakers to wrack their brains for any potential sightings of her.

It is feared the keen hiker, who was last seen on December 23, fell while out walking.

Official search and rescue teams were stood down on Monday after 72 hours, leaving expatriates and other residents organising the hunt.

Her worried family, including son Ben and daughter-in-law Claire, contacted the Spanish Civil Guard to raise the alarm after she failed to make contact with them over Christmas.

Sandy Bartholomew, a tour guide on the Canary Island who has taken charge of the search, said the authorities had agreed to restart the hunt as the News went to press with members of a hikers association.

Hang-gliders are also to be dispatched to search for mother-of-one Mrs Holt from the air.

Ms Bartholomew said: “There is every chance she could still be alive.

“Her son and daughter-in-law are in despair. We are all running around doing our utmost.”

Mrs Holt was on a two-week holiday to the Canary Islands when she went missing.

She was due to have flown home on December 29 but did not show up at the airport.

She is described as extremely fit and was last seen wearing a light pink vest, khaki shorts and walking sandals and carrying a drawstring bag.

Her passport and belongings were found in her hotel room, although it is believed she took her mobile phone – which is not working – with her.

A guidebook, believed to have been found in her room, indicated she planned to walk in the north of the island.

Mrs Holt’s family had been pinning their hopes on locating her mobile phone through satellite technology. But police were told there are not enough mobile phone antennae on the island to get an accurate fix.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are in contact with the Spanish authorities who are investigating and are carrying out a search co-ordinated by the Civil Guard and local emergency services.

“Staff from the British Consulate are in contact with the authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ms Bartholomew on 0034 6083 43297 or 0044 7803 620127 or email Mrs Holt’s daughter-in-law at clare.riley@dhl.com