The sister of a British man missing in Colombia for seven weeks has spoken of the family's anguish and their desperate search for answers.
Anton Green, 43, from Manchester, has not been heard from since August 6. His mother, 65, is struggling to cope, while his sister Sian Tuohey, 40, said the family has been losing sleep.
Sian told the Mirror: "It was easy to stay positive in the beginning, but it's got to the point definitely for me and my mum where we're losing sleep. We're very anxious throughout the day. We don’t know what’s happened but with all this time, you start imagining the worst and making up your own conclusions."
Regular contact suddenly stopped
Anton, originally from Whalley Range, Manchester, moved to Colombia around 2023 and had recently moved house in the Bogotá area. Despite the distance, the web designer remained in regular contact with his family.
Sian said: "There's never been an extended period of time that he hasn't been in communication with friends and family."
His mother last spoke to him on August 2, followed by his father three days later, when Anton mentioned possibly travelling to Ecuador. A friend is believed to have last heard from him on August 6. When Anton failed to respond to calls and messages, his mother contacted the British Embassy and UK police.
According to Sian, officers discovered that one of Anton's bank accounts had not been used since July 29, while money his dad transferred on August 8 remained untouched. There had also been no apparent activity on his social media accounts.
Investigation opened but no updates
Colombian police opened a missing person investigation around three weeks ago, but the family had received no updates, only confirmation of the investigation being opened.
Sian said: "We're not expecting them to present us with a miracle but you are investigators that's your job so please describe to us what that looks like and where you're at with it."
Despite repeatedly contacting the British Embassy, Sian said she had been told only that Anton had not been found, while her mum was informed that officials would call when they had news.
She said: "My brother is still a British citizen, and it just feels like we're being treated as though it doesn't matter. They are the only ones who can do something we have no power to do anything. We have nothing at our disposal, no resources to be able to do something beyond what they can offer.
"We’re a big family, so we can support each other emotionally, but in terms of resources. It’s not enough, the big gaps in communication and us constantly chasing, it’s not enough."
Family prepared to travel to Colombia
The family have contacted one of Anton's friends in Colombia and connected with others willing to help and are prepared to travel to the country if necessary.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford also shared a missing person appeal on Instagram. Rashford, who described Anton as a family friend, previously played alongside his brother Ro-Shaun Williams in Manchester United's youth set-up.
The uncertainty has taken an enormous emotional toll on Anton's family, particularly his mother. Sian said: "It’s been hard especially for my mum where she's overrun with the emotion of it. For me I know that I have to just be practical and do the practical steps that is needed to support the case but for my mum she's at her end with it now like she's not doing well."
Anton, the eldest brother in the family, is a devoted uncle to Sian's three children. Sian said the family were also concerned about Anton's wellbeing because he had experienced a period of depression last year. She appealed to anyone who might have seen or spoken to him before his disappearance to come forward.
She said: "I there is anyone who knew him at a more personal, visible level than we have in the last few years and they can maybe vouch for his recent behaviour, that would definitely be helpful to us and to the authorities because we need to know what has happened."
Above all, the family simply wanted reassurance that Anton was safe. Sian said: "I just need answers, I need communication, I just need Anton to know if he is somewhere and he's just fed up with life right now and he just wants a bit of peace its fine. As long as we know he's okay we'd be happy to give him time but we just need to know that that he's okay."
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told the Mirror: "We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Colombia and are in touch with local authorities."
