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SPANISH police are searching for a British seaman who went missing off the coasts of Gran Canaria while on a solo trip around the world. They have revealed a brand new line of investigation.
A desperate search for James ‘Jesmie’ Nunan, 34, from Reading, was launched in late August after the Brit adventurer’s yacht, Kehaar, was found by coastguards 50 miles off the coast of Gran Canaria with no sign of its owner – bar his trusty miniature Jack Russell companion.
The loyal pooch, Thumbelina, was discovered unharmed – but there is no sign of its free-spirited owner, who worked as a bricklayer for a year to save up before setting sail on his dream voyage in March.
Nunan made his last contact with his 56-year-old mother, Maura, on 18 August, after he had made stops in Gibraltar and Lanzarote.
Authorities now believe Nunan may have ‘suffered an accident’ on his yacht in challenging sailing conditions.
READ MORE: Search underway for British sailor after he vanishes from the coast of Gran Canaria 50 miles away during a round-the world trip
Spanish media quoted a Guardia Civil source as saying: “The most likely hypothesis is that James was injured while trying to climb the mast during adverse weather conditions.”
“But we are still investigating all possible lines and the case isn’t closed.”
The police have centered their investigation around this theory because Nunan’s life jacket, as well as a chair that was used to climb to the pole on the boat were missing.
But Nunan’s family are concerned a ‘third party’ was involved in his disappearance – pointing to foul play.
He said to his mother: “I believe someone has gone to great lengths in order to make it appear that it is a man overboard.
He was telling people that he was traveling alone with his dog. “Anyone could have targeted him, for whatever reason.”
Nikita, Nuna’s sister-in-law, said: “We think there’s a good chance that a third person was involved.”
She said she found it ‘hard to believe’ that Nunan fell overboard.
She also praised the ‘overwhelmingly positive’ support the family have received, adding: “There’s been support from complete strangers, the local people in Gran Canaria, they’ve been helping us. The support of the sailing community was amazing.”
Goddard, however, questions how the Spanish police conducted the investigation. She said: “They assure me that they are looking into all possibilities, but I also feel as though actions speak louder and they don’t give us a complete story of what they are actually investigating.”
Nunan, a former police officer from Gran Canaria, filmed an August 18 Facebook Live video at 6:16pm. He appeared to be walking with a group migrants on the idyllic Playa del Confital.
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Nunan, who had told another patron that he was planning to return to Lanzarote, left Paddy’s Anchor in Las Palmas later that evening.
Nunan, said the man he was friends with, appeared to be drunk, but was not disruptive.
CCTV footage shows the nomad buying dinner at Rico Doner Kebab nearby.
The man is seen with his passport on his neck but his bag has been stolen when he ordered food.
A day later, Nunan’s passport was reported ‘lost or stolen’ to an Irish consulate in Gran Canaria.
One week later, local officials located Nunan’s vessel 50 miles off the southern tip of Gran Canaria – about 100 miles away from Las Palmas.
The day before, a pan-pan call – one step lower than a mayday alert – was made in relation to Nuna’s yacht.
Nunan’s 1/2 sister added: “He was always a free-spirited person.” He lived in a van that he converted and traveled around Scotland with it before he started sailing.
“When he went to Scotland, he got the idea he would get a boat and go around the world. He’s done that since March. He waited for my son to be born so that he could see him, and went almost straight after.”
A spokesperson for British Foreign Office confirmed: “We’re supporting the family a British man reported missing in Spain. We are in touch with the local authorities.”
The investigation continues.
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