The daughter of a British former property developer has said she is “beside herself with worry” after he vanished during a Costa del Sol holiday. Clifford Wildgoose, 76, was last seen around 2am on Saturday, September 20, at Patrick’s 19th Hole Bar in the upmarket resort of Puerto Banus near Marbella. He was due to board a flight to Manchester late this morning, September 21, with a solicitor friend he had been holidaying out in Spain with – but worried Melanie Hall said around the same time there was no sign of him at Malaga Airport and his family was growing increasingly concerned for his safety.
Melanie, who lives in Manchester, said today: “We’re all extremely worried. I was going to travel to Spain this morning but we’ve been advised to hang on for the moment. The gate has just closed for the flight he was due to board to get back home and his friends are at the airport and there’s no sign of him and they’ve had no contact with him. There was a transaction went through on his card for seven pounds this morning at a supermarket about five minutes from where he was last seen and four or five yesterday which are not for large amounts that the police have been informed about and I hope they’re checking out.”
She added: “At the moment we don’t know if it’s my dad making those purchases or someone who’s got hold of his wallet and something bad’s happened to him.
“The friend my dad was with said he just vanished, that he was stood at the bar one minute and gone the next.
“He’s not that steady on his feet because he’s had a knee replacement and he was having some other health issues.”
Mr Wildgoose, originally from Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester, but now living in Whitby in North Yorkshire, had only flown to Spain for the weekend.
Melanie, one of the pensioner’s five daughters, said: “He had left his phone and passport in his friend’s apartment in La Cala de Mijas about a half-hour drive from Puerto Banus and he won’t know the address of the flat because he’s never been before.
“All he had on him are some euros and the bank card.”
She added: “Everyone loves my dad. He’s a chatty, friendly kind man and very well-known in Marsden near Huddersfield where all his friends live and he used to live. He’s very well-travelled. He’s been a businessman all his life.
“Yorkshire Police have been really helpful and I know his friend has spoken to Spanish police. He’s told them about the transactions on the card and they say they’re dealing with it. I’ve tried ringing the hospitals.”
Clifford’s family first flagged up his disappearance on social media.
Melanie said in an initial post yesterday: “Missing person last seen at Patrick’s 19th Hole Bar in Puerto Banus.
He’s 76 from the UK and he’s called Clifford Wildgoose. Family are extremely worried and police have been informed. Any information please message.”
She added in another message late yesterday: “He’s due to fly home tomorrow. He has no phone and no-one has seen or heard from him. Family are worried sick. Please contact if any info.”
Melanie also said online her father “wasn’t feeling well” when he vanished.
One well-wisher responded by saying: “Melanie, my thoughts are with you. Shared. Praying he turns up.”
