Mystery as woman, 26, feared kidnapped from Notting Hill Carnival is found in hospital five days later
THE Portuguese woman last seen at the Notting Hill Carnival on Monday has been found in hospital.
Patricia Araujo’s aunt Claudia Sousa has told The Sun her younger relative had been admitted to Surrey County Hospital in Guildford after being spotted by a member of the public.
The missing woman’s concerned family had called in police and made social media appeals for help after a last sighting of her on Monday.
The 26-year-old Portuguese hotel receptionist in Ashford, Kent, was pictured the previous day dancing at the famous three-day London festival.
Two police forces, Kent Police and the Met Police, had been searching for her.
Claudia said Friday: “We have just been told Patricia has been located and she is in hospital.
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“We would like to thank everyone for their concern and for helping us by responding to the appeals we’ve made.”
Claudia, 41, said earlier: “We are beside ourselves with worry. We are concerned someone could be holding her against her will.”
Patricia last contacted relatives on Sunday morning with her family fearing she had been "kidnapped".
Her loved ones previously said the 26-year-old’s disappearance is “very out of character” and urged her to get in touch.
Patricia’s aunt Claudia Sousa told : “So many days have passed by that we’re thinking about if she has been kidnapped.
“So many bad things happen at the carnival."
She said she hoped Patricia had simply "met somebody" during the festivities and is "partying with them or at their house".
Patricia's housemates also said she had not come home but left with a bag containing a change of clothes.
Sousa said the young woman - who works at Travelodge in Eureka Leisure Park - called her cousin, who lives in the capital, on Saturday to ask if she could come over to change clothes and head to the carnival.
Patricia opted to go out with her cousin instead of the carnival on Saturday, she said.
However, her cousin contacted her at 4am to tell her to come back to her home.
Before midday on Sunday, Patricia told her cousin to say she was at the carnival "having fun" - the last contact made with family.
Her phone was found on the floor by a DJ who then contacted her loved ones on Tuesday.
Sousa said Patricia was alone at the carnival and so the family posted on TikTok to say she was missing.
Another attendee sent them a video and a picture of Patricia from Sunday.
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Sousa said the same woman saw her on Monday at 5pm without her jacket.
Her aunt added her mum was "crying all the time".