Sister launches frantic online appeal to find brother who went missing from Edinburgh College
French student Antoine Maury has not been seen since Monday when 'anxious, shirtless man' was spotted running by dogwalker
A SISTER has launched an emotional appeal to find her missing brother as police continue a major search operation to find the 21-year-old.
Antoine Maury a student at Edinburgh College, was last seen on Monday night at the halls of residence in the city's Milton Road West. He was reported missing after he left his friends at 10.30pm.
A man matching the description of the student from France was spotted with no shirt on, running and looking anxious by a dogwalker in the Duddingston Village area of Edinburgh at 10.45pm.
Police have been using a helicopter and search dogs around Duddingston Loch and mountain search and rescue teams have been combing the surrounding area.
His sister Emilia has been frantically tweeting from France about her brother posting messages on Facebook in an urgent bid to spread the news about his disappearance.
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Speaking from Paris she said: "It's not usual at all. His friends are so shocked. It's a strange reaction for him to do this.
"Maybe he is hurt somewhere. Is he cold? Is he sick? Nobody knows."
Emilia and Antoine's parents are in Edinburgh helping with the search and speaking to police, but Emilia will fly in on Friday night.
She said: "When you hear news like that, the feeling I get is feeling worried and wondering what is going to happen next.
"I'm in France, but in Scotland tomorrow.
"I'm tweeting as much as I can and doing the best I can from here. I can't just not do anything.
"I had never posted before on Twitter but I already see people are retweeting. Facebook is really useful. I'm trying to make people aware."
The 20-year-old posted a number of messages, including: "HELP, my brother have been missing, If you seen him call- +44 13 13 11 58 68 #AntoineMaury #Edinburgh #edinburghbloggers #EdinburghReporter"
Emilia, also a student, had been due to visit her brother this weekend as they had not seen each other for a while. But now when she arrives she will be joining the search to find her big brother.
She added: "If I could contact him right now I would tell him everyone is missing and caring about him. If he needs to talk to someone I can be discreet if he wants.
"He needs to understand no one wants to hurt him, we're all searching for him and we all want him back home and safe.
"We want him to feel he is loved. He doesn't have to hide anywhere.
"I will stay as long as I can in Scotland. I will be here to speak with him.
"The only thing that matters to me is he needs to be back home safe."
Police have launched a major search for Antoine. Yesterday a marine unit and police dogs continued to search the area around Duddingston Loch.
Antoine is described as a white, of medium build and around 6ft. He has short brown hair, a beard, a fair complexion and a tattoo of a bleeding hand on his forearm.
When he was last seen by his friends, he was wearing a brown or green bomber jacket with dark chinos and a white beanie hat at his last confirmed sighting.
He is also believed to have been wearing black and white Vans trainers.
He speaks a reasonable level of English but does not know Edinburgh well.
Inspector Alan Carson of Police Scotland said: "Antoine has now been missing for a significant amount of time and we are very concerned for his welfare.
"He is not familiar with the Edinburgh area and could easily have become disorientated and lost.
"We would again call on anyone who has seen Antoine or recognises his description to contact police on 101.
"I would also urge members of the public living in the Duddingston Village area to assist our search by checking their gardens and outhouses, as this may help to establish Antoine's whereabouts.
"All these efforts will help us to trace Antoine."
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