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Abduction fear for missing walker Abduction fear for missing walker
(about 4 hours later)
The wife of a British man who has gone missing while walking the Lycian Way in Turkey fears he may have been abducted.The wife of a British man who has gone missing while walking the Lycian Way in Turkey fears he may have been abducted.
John Kirkham, 67, from Lancashire, was fully equipped for the 9km (5.6 mile) section of the famous route after setting off from Ovacik on Monday.John Kirkham, 67, from Lancashire, was fully equipped for the 9km (5.6 mile) section of the famous route after setting off from Ovacik on Monday.
His wife Sandra raised the alarm when he failed to return but military police (Jandarma) searches of the area have found no sign of him.His wife Sandra raised the alarm when he failed to return but military police (Jandarma) searches of the area have found no sign of him.
"They said it was as if he disappeared off the end of the earth," she said."They said it was as if he disappeared off the end of the earth," she said.
Mr Kirkham, of Fleetwood, is an experienced walker and set off from the couple's holiday apartment at 0600 (CET) in "good spirits", promising to return by 1600 (CET).Mr Kirkham, of Fleetwood, is an experienced walker and set off from the couple's holiday apartment at 0600 (CET) in "good spirits", promising to return by 1600 (CET).
I am going out of my mind Sandra KirkhamI am going out of my mind Sandra Kirkham
Searches have established he passed through the first of two villages along the route - but failed to reach the second, Mrs Kirkham, 63, told the BBC.Searches have established he passed through the first of two villages along the route - but failed to reach the second, Mrs Kirkham, 63, told the BBC.
The Jandarma, a specialist mountain rescue team (AKUT), sniffer dogs, helicopters, local villagers, and people from the holiday apartments have all been searching the area.The Jandarma, a specialist mountain rescue team (AKUT), sniffer dogs, helicopters, local villagers, and people from the holiday apartments have all been searching the area.
But the dogs have failed to find any scent of Mr Kirkham on the well-marked road he would have walked along after leaving the first village, Mrs Kirkham said.But the dogs have failed to find any scent of Mr Kirkham on the well-marked road he would have walked along after leaving the first village, Mrs Kirkham said.
"They are good at what they are doing but they are searching a very vast area and we think the answer is lying on the first leg where he reached the first village," she said."They are good at what they are doing but they are searching a very vast area and we think the answer is lying on the first leg where he reached the first village," she said.
"We're beginning to think he has maybe been abducted on this road."We're beginning to think he has maybe been abducted on this road.
"He had money on him, he had a mobile phone. He would have phoned me if he got lost but that mobile phone has never been switched on.""He had money on him, he had a mobile phone. He would have phoned me if he got lost but that mobile phone has never been switched on."
No traceNo trace
People from the couple's base - Dolphin Apartments, near Olu Deniz, have walked the route and say it is well marked.People from the couple's base - Dolphin Apartments, near Olu Deniz, have walked the route and say it is well marked.
"There is no way you can get lost," Mrs Kirkham said."There is no way you can get lost," Mrs Kirkham said.
"My husband belongs to walking club, we been all over the world walking. He had a compass, he had GPS on him, he had map. But there is no trace of my husband."My husband belongs to walking club, we been all over the world walking. He had a compass, he had GPS on him, he had map. But there is no trace of my husband.
"I am going out of my mind.""I am going out of my mind."
Mrs Kirkham's daughter, Sharon Wilkinson, 40, has flown out to help her mother, who is desperate for answers.Mrs Kirkham's daughter, Sharon Wilkinson, 40, has flown out to help her mother, who is desperate for answers.
'Honest answer'
After pressing the local Jandarma commander on the status of the search she fears it may soon be called off.After pressing the local Jandarma commander on the status of the search she fears it may soon be called off.
"I asked him how long he will search for my dad, and I said I wanted an honest answer. He said 'maybe three days'.""I asked him how long he will search for my dad, and I said I wanted an honest answer. He said 'maybe three days'."
The Kirkham family say they are now looking for support from the authorities in Britain to help them continue the hunt and pursue the abduction line of inquiry.The Kirkham family say they are now looking for support from the authorities in Britain to help them continue the hunt and pursue the abduction line of inquiry.
The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) said local authorities were investigating Mr Kirkham's disappearance and it was providing consular assistance.The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) said local authorities were investigating Mr Kirkham's disappearance and it was providing consular assistance.