'I've never felt pain like this' - tributes mark anniversary of Wiltshire man's Ibiza disappearance

Ben Garland was riding a motorbike on the Spanish island in January 2020

Author: Matt HutchinsonPublished 21st Jan 2021
Last updated 21st Jan 2021

Tributes are being paid to a man from Wiltshire, exactly one year after his disappearance in Ibiza.

On 21 January 2020, Ben Garland never returned after taking a ride on his motorcycle.

It's thought the biker - in his mid-20s - was swept out to sea, as Storm Gloria hit the Spanish island.

His body has never been found, despite extensive searches by his family, as well as the Spanish coastguard, police and land crew.

The former Engineering student was making the journey to film the local surf, planning on posting the footage to Instagram.

According to his Facebook account, Mr Garland attended St Laurence School in Bradford-on-Avon, before studying at Wiltshire College in Chippenham.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which arranged a fundraising 'Memorial Run' the month after his disappearance, has encouraged people to light candles in remembrance.

Family tragedy

Mr Garland's parents have since faced further devastation, as his sister Charlotte Hennessey was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year.

She has also contracted Coronavirus and, on 19 January, her father Mark Garland said she was in hospital.

'I had a few tears this morning'

Marking her brother's anniversary, Charlotte said: "My heart is broken ... I've never felt pain like this".

Sarah Baldy responded: "I can’t even begin to imagine what you're feeling right now but I am thinking of you all.

"Had a few tears this morning thinking about Ben and all of you (the family)," she said.

Facebook friend Tom Hardy said he was "praying" for the family, added that their son "will always be looking down and smiling".

A fundraising page to support the Garland family has so far received more than £2,000.

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