The family of a British sailor who vanished during a round-the-world voyage have disclosed that critical items, including the charred remains of an iPad and mobile phone, have been discovered, marking a significant development in the puzzling case.
The Disappearance of James 'Jemsie' Nunan
James 'Jemsie' Nunan, a 35-year-old from Colchester in Essex, disappeared in August while sailing solo. His last known whereabouts were on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. An intensive search operation was launched after he failed to make contact with his family.
Authorities managed to trace his final movements through CCTV footage, which captured him at a kebab shop in the island's capital, Las Palmas, on August 19. Notably, he was seen wearing his Irish passport around his neck. In a contradictory twist, further CCTV showed him at a local police station on the same day, reporting that very passport as lost.
Fresh Clues and Family's Growing Concerns
As Jemsie celebrated his 35th birthday this week, his family issued a renewed appeal for information, now 14 weeks into the agonising search. They have revealed that investigators have since recovered the outer shells of a burnt iPad, a burnt phone, and an unscrewed GPS aerial.
The family has expressed deep frustration with the official investigation, stating that a full forensic examination of his vessel has not been conducted. The sailboat was found 100 miles (160km) from Las Palmas, and while Jemsie's Jack Russell terrier, Thumbelina, was found alive and well on board on August 25, there was no trace of the sailor himself.
Contradictions and Alleged Oversights
The case is mired in conflicting accounts from Spanish and British authorities. The family claims they received contradictory statements from Essex Police and the Guardia Civil regarding a critical Pan Pan distress call—a non-life-threatening urgency signal—made on August 24.
Initially, both forces confirmed the call was made, but the family says the Guardia Civil has since retracted this, stating no such call was ever logged and its source was never established.
Further concerns have been raised about the handling of witness testimony. CCTV footage from the kebab shop where Jemsie was last seen has reportedly been dismissed by authorities, who cited his subsequent visit to the police station. However, the family insists they have confirmation he was targeted there and his backpack was stolen, with witnesses ready to corroborate this who were never interviewed by the Guardia Civil.
The situation surrounding his dog, Thumbelina, has also been a source of distress. Authorities initially claimed the dog was not on the boat when it was recovered, only to state a week later that she had been. There remains no confirmed account of her whereabouts between the boat being towed and her being handed to a shelter. Complications arose when she was given a new Spanish microchip, despite having a valid British one, prolonging her return to the family.
Jemsie's family also alleges they were advised not to contact the media and have been asked to pay taxes for the boat's impoundment at a maritime police compound. Both Essex Police and the Guardia Civil have been contacted for comment on these allegations.
