Family reveal first confirmed sighting of missing man Liam Colgan
The family and friends of Liam Colgan who went missing after a stag weekend in Hamburg have revealed details of his first confirmed sighting.
Last updated 21st Feb 2018
The first confirmed sighting of Liam Colgan, who went missing after a stag weekend in Hamburg, has created 'new lines of inquiry', according to his family and friends. It was a short time after they had last seen him in the Veermaster Bar and it is now being investigated by police.
CCTV footage shows Liam arriving at the vehicle barrier of G&J building in Baumwall, Hamburg, at about 02:20.
A witness reports seeing Liam and helping him up some steps to the main entrance of that building after he fell – this is corroborated by the CCTV.
The footage goes on to show Liam trying unsuccessfully to get in to the building, before walking towards the Michelwiese Park.
He is helped again by the same witness to get into this park, and is last seen heading towards the Portuguese quarter at around 0230.
Further as yet unconfirmed sightings continue to come in from the Buxtehude area, and searches have been made there by family, friends and volunteers. More searches are being made over the coming days.
The search is being assisted by The Lucie Blackman Trust which says it has seen an unprecedented amount of calls and emails providing further potential sightings and information.
Hamburg Police have been using search dogs and searching the Buxtehude area, next to Hamburg railway station where Liam was reportedly seen on Wednesday and Thursday.
The family said in a Facebook page set up to find Liam they are encouraged by a regular stream of reports about a “confused Scotsman'' wandering the city of Hamburg.
In a tweet about the news, the trust said: 'We now have a first CONFIRMED sighting of Liam Colgan.
'Whilst this is only shortly after he was last seen, it is still positive news and we are following several other leads.'
Chief executive Matthew Searle of the trust said: "Although there have been quite a few sighting of Liam, this is the first one that's definitely him.'"
The confirmed sighting follows the recovery of a man's body from the River Elbe which was not Liam.
His brother Eamonn said: "I'm obviously incredibly relieved that this was not Liam however pass on my condolences to the family involved in what must be a horrible time for them.
"My brother is still out there and we are still receiving sightings. We need to find Liam and bring him home to his family and friends."